The state government of Maharashtra, in a recently taken decision, has decide to implement the Global Climate Fund initiative across four districts in the state. As planned, Palghar, Raigad, Ratnagiri, and Sindhudurg districts will benefit from the six-year long national initiative focused towards enhancing climate resilience.
An additional principal chief conservator of forests (APCCF), mangrove cell, was appointed on Thursday, June 9, 2021, who will serve as the state projector director responsible for receiving funds from the GCF to his bank account and distributing it further as per the needs. The project has been jointly funded by three entities - the central government, state government and the Green Climate Fund (GCF).
As directed under the United Nations Development Program, Global Climate Fund initiative will focus on restoring mangroves, corals and coastal watershed areas in the above-mentioned districts thereby making lives better for communities living in the coastal regions. This will be implemented as per a part of the proposed aquaculture projects. Besides this, district-level steering committees will soon be formed which will work along with the state-level steering committee to implement the decisions.
Sharing more details, APCCF of the mangrove cell, Virendra Tiwari, told the Hindustan Times, "Maharashtra’s contribution is about $19 million, while the MoEFCC is allocating another $20 million. The state governments of Orissa and Andhra, where the project is also being implemented, are contributing $20 million each, while the GCF is providing $43 million in all.”
Based on the project areas like Devgad, Malvan, Vengurla, Dapoli, Guhagar, Rajapur, Panvel, Uran, Dahanu and Palghar will reap the benefits of the efforts. Concerned officials have submitted the plan to the UNDP and are awaiting approval for the same.
The proposed project will also offer job opportunities to over 1.7 million people, of which 50 per cent will be women. Farming activities will be promoted among the people which can support the livelihood for many and to effective implement the same, a detailed list of locations have been identified and listed by the Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI) which can be shared to promote employment.
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Tiwari further added that experts and related organisations will be consulted to understand the mangrove and coral restoration initiatives, post which the concerned teams shall implement the plan. Communities with a detailed understanding of the matters will be referred for the eco-restoration projects.
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