Expressing satisfaction over Phase-I execution of the Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM), the World Bank has offered its support for extension of the project in the State. This was discussed at a meeting held under chairmanship of Chief Secretary AP Padhi at the Secretariat on Saturday.
A three-member expert team of the World Bank led by Paula Caballero, Forests and Environment Secretary Suresh Chandra Mohapatra and ICZM Project Director Dr Ajit Kumar Patnaik were present.
Stating that ICZM interventions during Phase-I in Odisha was satisfactory, P Chaballero said the World Bank likes to extend support for the interventions like capacity building, scientific management of fishery resources and eco-management in costal industrial sites like Paradip.
Padhi said the best practices developed during Phase-I interventions should be replicated and scaled up during Phase-II of the project.
In the Phase-I near about 180 km of coastal area has been covered under the project. The Government has proposed to extend the project to another 300-km coastal zone in Phase-II, which has been submitted to the Union Government and the sanction of which is awaited.
The Phase-I is scheduled to be completed by 2017 with a revised financial outlay of Rs 334 crore. The major interventions taken up in the project include strengthening of Wetland Research and Training Center at Chilika, protection measures for control of coastal erosion at Pentha in Kendrapada district, conservation of biodiversity and livelihood security through eco-tourism, alternative livelihood for costal fishermen, establishment of Coastal Mitigation laboratory at Paradip and construction of multipurpose cyclone centers.