(a) whether global sea levels are rising every year;
(b) if so, the rise of sea level in the Indian coastal regions during the last three years;
(c) the likely possibility of rise in the next ten years; and
(d) the action taken by the Government and/or proposals to tackle the serious threat in near future?
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE
(DR. MAHESH SHARMA)
(a) to (c): According to the fifth Assessment Report of Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, the global mean rate of sea level rise was 1.7 mm per year between 1901 and 2010. As per the studies carried out by Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS), the sea levels are changing at different rates along the Indian coast. On an average, the sea level along the Indian coast is rising at the rate of 0.33 to 5.16 mm/year and the trend is expected to continue.
(d): The Government of India has formulated the National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC), which outlines a number of steps relating to mitigation of greenhouse gases and adaptation to the adverse impacts of climate change. 32 States and UTs have prepared their State Action Plans in line with the NAPCC. The Government of India, Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change has notified Coastal Regulation Zone Notification 2011 and the Island Protection Zone Notification 2011 with the objectives of protection of livelihoods of fishing communities, preservation of coastal ecology and promotion of economic activity that have necessarily to be located in the coastal region. The developmental activities along these Coastal Regulation Zones are required to be in accordance with these notifications. The Ministry is also implementing Integrated Coastal Zone Management Project in the identified coastal stretches of three states namely Gujarat, Odisha and West Bengal.
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