Question : DEPLETION OF COASTAL SALINE FORESTS

(a) whether devastations caused by cyclone and tidal waves of coastal belts of Andhra Pradesh, Orissa and West Bengal having increased several fold during recent past due to depletion and destruction of coastal saline forests;

(b) if so, whether the Government are making any plan and project for raising saline forests along the coast of Andhra Pradesh, Orissa and West Bengal during the 10th Plan period;

(c) if so, the details thereof;

(d) whether any efforts had been made for raising saline forests during the 9th Plan period; and

(e) if so, the details thereof, indicating the financial allocation, expenditure, physical target set and achievements made during each year of the 9th Plan, State-wise?

MINISTER OF ENVIRONMENT AND FORESTS (SHRI T.R. BAALU)

(a) to (e) Devastation caused by cyclone in coastal areas of Andhra Pradesh, Orissa and West Bengal has been severe in the recent past. Ministry of Environment and Forests has been implementing a Scheme on Conservation and Management of Mangroves and Coral Reefs since 1986. Development of mangroves has been identified as one of the Thrust Area for implementation during the Ninth Five Year Plan. Under Integrated Afforestation and Eco-development Project Scheme the Coastal Shelterbelt Plantation Project has been introduced in 2000-01 to mitigate the effect of cyclone, to check soil erosion and inward drift of sand dunes. These projects are likely to be continued during the Tenth Five Year Plan. The State-wise physical and financial targets and achievements made during Ninth Plan period under these Schemes are given in Annexure -I.



Annexure-I


ANNEXURE REFERRED TO IN PART (a) to (e) OF LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.141 FOR REPLY ON 23.7.2001


Statewise physical and financial targets and achievements related to the Scheme on Conservation and Management of Mangroves and Coral Reefs and Coastal Shelterbelt Plantation Ninth Plan period.

Mangroves:

(Area in Ha. & Amount Rs. in lakhs)
STATE/MANGROVE
AREA	1997-98	1998-99	1999-2000	2000-01	2001-02	Total 9th Plan
Tar.	Ach.	Tar.	Ach.	Tar.	Ach.	Tar.	Ach.	Tar.	Ach.	Tar.	Ach.
Andhra Pra :
Coringa
Krishna
East-Godavari
Physical	-	-	450	450	-	-	400	400	350	-	1200	850
Financial	-	-	28.02	28.02	-	-	59.87	59.87	65.85	-	153.74	87.89
Orissa:
Bhitarkanika
Mahanadi
Subernrekha
Devi Dhamra 
Physical	-	-	-	-	350	-	450	-	-	-	800	-
Financial	-	-	-	-	44.06	-	55.75	-	-	-	99.81	-
West Bengal:
Sunderbans
Physical	300	300	400	400	500	500	-	-	-	-	1200	1200
Financial	66.82	66.82	63.60	63.60	44.95	44.95	-	-	-	-	175.37	175.37

Coastal Shelterbelt Plantation Projects under IAEPS:
(Area in Ha. & Amount Rs. in lakhs)

2000-01	2001-02	Total	9th Plan
STATE	DISTRICT	Phy.	Fin.	Rel.	Phy.	Fin.	Phy.	Fin.	Rel.	Phy.	Fin.	Phy.	Fin.

Ach.	Target	Ach.	Target	Ach.	Target	Ach.	Target
Andhra Pradesh
Srikakulam, Vijayanagram Krishna,Guntur & Nellore
0	154.43	79.78	0	79.76	2050	318.01	105.18	0	0.00	2050	472.44
Orissa
Puri,Ganjam, Balasore,
Kendrapara, Jagatsinghpur & Bhadrak	2000	870.70	441.09	100	100.80	6000	617.81	0.00	0	0.00	8000	1488.51
West Bengal
Kharagpur	0	13.80	7.60	0	6.06	150	16.22	10.56	0	0.00	150	30.02
Total	2000	1038.93	528.47	100	186.62	8200	952.04	115.74	0	0.0	10200	1990.97