Question : NATIONAL COASTAL PROTECTION PROJECT

(a) whether the Union Government has received proposal from Government of Maharashtra for Central Assistance worth Rs.195 crore under the national Coastal Protection Project;

(b) if so, the details of the proposal;

(c) whether the Union Government has sanctioned Central Assistance as proposed by the Government of Maharashtra;

(d) if not, the reasons therefor;

(e) the stage at which the project stands at present; and

(f) the cost escalation of the project if any, on account of the delay in granting sanction for the same?

MINISTER OF SHIPPING, ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS (SHRI T.R. BAALU)

(a) & (b) The Maharashtra Maritime Board submitted a proposal for an estimated cost of Rs.195.50 crore in July, 2002 for inclusion in the proposed National Coastal Protection Project (NCPP). The proposal includes 72.36 km of anti-sea erosion works in Mumbai, Mumbai Suburban, Thane, Raigad, Ratnagiri and Sindhudurg District.

(c) to (f) As the NCPP has been planned for seeking external funding, an approach paper on coastal protection has been prepared and submitted to the Planning Commission. Planning Commission has taken up the matter with Department of Economic Affairs (DEA) for exploring the possibility of getting external funding.