A high-level meeting on the proposed Adaptive Resilience Investment in Coastal Systems on Economics (ARISE) Project was held today at Lok Seva Bhawan to deliberate on a comprehensive and long-term strategy for protecting Odisha’s coastline, enhancing climate resilience and promoting sustainable economic development in coastal areas.
Minister of Revenue & Disaster Management, Suresh Pujari, who chaired the meeting, emphasised the need for a comprehensive approach to coastal management that combines coastal protection, environmental conservation, livelihood security, biodiversity protection and economic sustainability. He stressed that the ARISE Project should contribute towards strengthening the resilience of coastal communities and ecosystems against the growing impacts of climate change.
A preliminary assessment of Odisha’s 573-km coastline has been undertaken jointly by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the Odisha State Disaster Management Authority (OSDMA). Consultations have also been held with ADB and the Departments of Water Resources, Forest, Fisheries & Animal Resources Development & Revenue & Disaster Management on key issues relating to coastal erosion, sediment management, protection of coastal villages and safeguarding the lives and livelihoods of coastal communities. Based on these consultations, ADB and OSDMA have prepared a preliminary report, which was discussed in detail during the meeting.
It was informed that ADB (Asian Development Bank) has also been working with the State Governments of Kerala, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu on coastal protection initiatives. The first phase of the coastal protection project in Karnataka has already been completed. The Hon’ble Minister informed that after completion of the final assessment and report for Odisha, the ARISE Project would be taken up in a phased manner, with appropriate interventions to strengthen coastal protection across the State.
The meeting discussed integrated measures to address coastal erosion along Odisha’s coastline. Emphasis was placed on scientific & technology-driven interventions to reduce erosion, protect vulnerable coastal stretches, and strengthen long-term coastal resilience.
The development of Odisha’s Blue Economy was also deliberated upon, with emphasis on harnessing the State’s vast marine resources and economic potential in a sustainable and responsible manner. The approach would seek to generate greater livelihood and economic opportunities for coastal communities while contributing to the State’s overall economic growth.
The meeting also focused on promoting Climate-Resilient Coastal Tourism in view of the increasing impacts of climate change and natural hazards. Discussions centred on developing sustainable tourism models that balance economic opportunities with environmental conservation and strengthen the resilience of coastal tourism infrastructure and communities.
Coastal Protection and Sediment Management were identified as key components of the proposed interventions. The meeting emphasised the need to understand the natural dynamics of Odisha’s coastline and adopt scientifically informed approaches for managing sediment movement and deposition. Strengthening natural coastal defence systems and undertaking suitable protective measures at vulnerable locations were also discussed.
For effective implementation of the ARISE Project, special emphasis was laid on Institutional Strengthening, Capacity Building and Advanced Technological Systems. The meeting discussed strengthening the institutional capacity of departments and agencies involved in coastal management, enhancing the technical skills of officials and personnel, and promoting knowledge and experience sharing among stakeholders.
The use of modern technology, real-time data, and digital platforms for effective coastal management was also emphasised. An integrated technological monitoring system for tracking coastal erosion, improving hazard forecasting, supporting data-driven decision-making and strengthening preparedness and response mechanisms was identified as an important component of the long-term strategy.
The meeting emphasised that the ARISE Project should adopt a long-term, scientific, integrated and sustainable approach to enhance climate resilience along Odisha’s extensive coastline while simultaneously strengthening environmental protection, disaster resilience, coastal livelihoods and economic development.
Special Relief Commissioner and Managing Director, OSDMA, Rajesh Prabhakar Patil, senior officials of OSDMA and senior officials of the Asian Development Bank attended the meeting.
