| Project Detail |
Project Name
Maharashtra Sustainable Climate-Resilient Coastal Protection and Management Project
Project Number
55252-001
Country / Economy
India
Project Status
Proposed
Project Type / Modality of Assistance
Loan
Maharashtra is increasingly experiencing climate-related events. Its coastline is characterized by stable rocky cliffs and unstable sandy beaches, estuarine areas, and mangrove forests. The states narrow coastal plain, which is situated between the Arabian Sea and the Western Ghats, also supports other economic activities such as marine transportation, fishing, agriculture, cultural and recreational tourism. In Maharashtra, coastal erosion is resulting in loss of land for communities affecting livelihoods, and flooding inundation is impacting vulnerable coastal communities, by damaging public and private infrastructure and risking lives particularly among women. The primary natural factors responsible for coastal erosion are (i) change in wave extremes due to increase in frequency and magnitude of extreme events, (ii) changes in river hydrology and sand supply near the estuarine areas, and (iii) disruption in natural littoral sediment transport. In recent years, climate change effects such as sea-level rise, altered frequency, intensity, and track of tropical cyclones have exacerbated the erosion. Human activities and infrastructures along the shoreline, such as wharfs and groynes, harbor jetties and beach mining hinder sediment transport in the littoral zone. Target beneficiaries will be the coastal communities living within the coastal zone.
Project Rationale and Linkage to Country/Regional Strategy
Indias coastline is about 7,525 kilometers (km) in length, and about 171 million people live within its 70 coastal districts across 9 states. Since 1990, about one-third of Indias coastlines have suffered from significant erosion, impacting lives, livelihoods, communities, food security and trade. Maharashtra is one of most vulnerable states to coastal erosion, along with Kerala and Karnataka. Climate change is projected to increasingly threaten Indias coastline with higher sea levels, unpredictable precipitation, and frequent storms.
Maharashtras coastline is about 740 km and has 28.62 million people living within its coastal districts of Thane, Mumbai, Raigarh, Ratnagiri, and Sindhudurg. The state has the highest contribution to Indias gross domestic product (14.2%). It relies heavily on its coastal advantage to drive its economy. About 20% of Indias annual trade passes through Mumbais two main ports. Maharashtra has the fourth-largest rural and the poor population in India. An ADB study in 2021 found that about 28% of the coastal, rural population still live below the poverty line. Maharashtra has experienced the significant adverse impact from the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic among Indias states, with high death tolls and badly impacted employment in rural and urban Maharashtra. Rural poor communities as well as urban areas, are affected by coastal erosion and issues relating to poor coastal management.
Impact
State resilience to disasters and climate change enhanced. |
