The State government has issued orders to implement the Tamil Nadu Coastal Restoration Mission over the next five years.
The project cost is about ₹1,675 crore with the World Bank support.
The mission includes projects to strengthen coastal biodiversity, improve coastal livelihood through sustainable tourism, and reduce plastic waste in marine environments.
The mission has four focus areas:
Enhancing coastal biodiversity;
Coastal protection;
Improving livelihood through the creation of blue flag beaches and sustainable tourism; and
Pollution abatement.
A special purpose vehicle, named Tamil Nadu Blue Carbon Agency, will be established to
Monitor the restoration of mangroves and seagrass;
Control erosion; restore the corals at Kariyachalli Islands of the Gulf of Mannar ecosystem; and
Strengthen coastal management systems.
The mission includes previously launched projects such as
Establishing a biodiversity and conservation park at Kadambur, Chengalpattu;
Sea turtle conservation centres at Nagapattinam and in Chennai; and
An international dugong conservation centre at Manora, Thanjavur.