Thu Nov 20 09:12:15 UTC 2025: Okay, here’s a summary of the text followed by a rewritten news article:
Summary:
The Water Resources Department (WRD) of Tamil Nadu, India, has submitted project proposals to the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) to address critical coastal erosion in five districts: Mayiladuthurai, Kanniyakumari, Tiruvallur, Chengalpattu, and Chennai. Mayiladuthurai is particularly affected. The proposals, based on reports from the National Centre for Coastal Research (NCCR), outline mitigation measures costing ₹755 crore and will start on 2026 if approved. These measures include beach nourishment, bio-plantation, coral reefs, coir structures, oyster shell beds, geo tubes, and living shorelines. Local residents and organizations are also involved, planting palm seeds to combat erosion. Experts emphasize balancing development with climate change impact and employing nature-based solutions where possible, alongside potentially using hard engineering solutions in densely populated areas.
News Article:
Tamil Nadu Seeks ₹755 Crore to Combat Coastal Erosion Crisis
Chennai, November 20, 2025 – The Tamil Nadu Water Resources Department (WRD) is urgently seeking approval from the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) for a ₹755 crore project aimed at mitigating severe coastal erosion threatening several districts of the state. The comprehensive plan targets five particularly vulnerable areas: Mayiladuthurai, Kanniyakumari, Tiruvallur, Chengalpattu, and Chennai.
The proposal comes as coastal communities voice increasing alarm over shoreline degradation. According to the WRD, data from the National Centre for Coastal Research (NCCR) indicates that 39% of Tamil Nadu’s 992 km coastline is at risk of erosion, with Mayiladuthurai district experiencing particularly acute losses (71% of its shoreline).
“We have lost a minimum of 50 metres of shoreline in the past decade,” said M. Sivasubramanian, a resident of Vanagiri in Mayiladuthurai, highlighting the devastating impact on local fishing communities.
The WRD’s plan emphasizes a combination of nature-based solutions, including beach nourishment, bio-plantations, the creation of artificial coral reefs and oyster beds, the use of coir structures, and the implementation of “living shorelines” to naturally stabilize the coast. Palm seed planting by local organizations has also shown promise in select locations.
“We have planted lakhs of palm seeds in Mayiladuthurai district since 2023,” stated M. Rajavelu, chief coordinator of Green Needa, emphasizing the role of community-led efforts.
M.V. Ramanamurthy, former Director of NCCR, underscored the importance of balancing development with the impacts of climate change. While advocating for bio-shields and sand nourishment, he acknowledged that hard engineering solutions like groynes might be necessary in densely populated areas.
The WRD plans to pursue a detailed project report and seek Coastal Regulation Zone clearance upon NDMA approval. The projects are expected to commence on 2026, hopefully providing much-needed protection for Tamil Nadu’s eroding coastline and the communities that depend on it.
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