The Financing and Project Agreements for World Bank assistance (IDA assistance) of US $ 236 million for Tamil Nadu-Puducherry Coastal Disaster Risk Reduction Project (CDRRP) were signed between the Government of India, Government of Tamil Nadu and the Government of Puducherry and the World Bank here today.

The Financing Agreement was signed by Shri Nilaya Mitash, Joint Secretary, Department of Economic Affairs on behalf of Government of India and Mr. Onno Ruhl, Country Director, World Bank on behalf of the World Bank. The Project Agreement was signed by Shri Gagandeep Singh Bedi, Secretary, Revenue Department, Government of Tamil Nadu on behalf of Government of Tamil Nadu and Mr. Deepak Kumar, Project Director, Project Implementing Agency, Government of Puducherry on behalf of Government of Puducherry. Ms. Aparna Bhatia, Director(MI), Department of Economic Affairs anchored the function held at North Block, New Delhi. Representatives from Government of Tamil Nadu, Government of Puducherry and World Bank were present.

The objective of the Project is to increase the resilience of coastal communities in Tamil Nadu and Puducherry, to a range of hydro-meteorological and geophysical hazards along with improving project implementation entities’ capacity to respond promptly and effectively to an eligible crisis or emergency.

The Project will have the following five components, viz. (i) Vulnerability Reduction; (ii) Sustainable Fisheries; (iii) Capacity building in Disaster Risk Management; (iv) Implementation Support; and (v) Contingency Emergency Response.

Key Expected Results:

I. The Project is expected to result in (i) increased community resilience and preparedness in coastal areas; (ii) improved multi-hazard resilient coastal infrastructure; (iii) enhanced performance of and livelihood opportunities from fisheries with increased safety at sea; (iv) increased institutional capacity for risk mitigation and response at the state level.

II. The primary beneficiaries of the project would be approximately 150 coastal villages that would benefit from the risk mitigation infrastructures. Further, the project would enable a local reform process, which will ensure an improved performance in the marine fisheries sector, characterized by a sustainable flow of social and economic benefits to coastal fisheries communities and a healthy marine environment. Over 17,000 families is expected to benefit from the construction of in-situ permanent multi-hazard resilient houses. Through a disaster management curriculum development for schools and training institutions, the project has the potential to benefit a large community of school children and trainees.

III. It is Specific Investment Loan for a period of 5 years. The implementing agencies are Government of Tamil Nadu and Government of Puducherry.

Coastal disaster resilience financing strengthens community preparedness, infrastructure, fisheries safety, and institutional risk response capacity. The Governments of India, Tamil Nadu and Puducherry signed financing and project agreements with the World Bank to fund a Coastal Disaster Risk Reduction Project aimed at increasing coastal community resilience to hydro meteorological and geophysical hazards and improving implementing entities' crisis response capacity. The project comprises five components: Vulnerability Reduction; Sustainable Fisheries; Capacity Building in Disaster Risk Management; Implementation Support; and Contingency Emergency Response. It targets about 150 coastal villages, over 17,000 families for resilient housing, and broader beneficiaries through disaster management curriculum, and is financed as a Specific Investment Loan over five years, implemented by the Governments of Tamil Nadu and Puducherry.