<h1>State launches Marine Resource Foundation with Rs 50 crore corpus to fund conservation, livelihoods, eco-tourism, blue-carbon projects</h1> The state government has launched a Marine Resource Foundation with an initial corpus of Rs 50 crore, following a budget announcement, to support marine biodiversity conservation, sustainable livelihoods, eco-tourism, environmental education, research and innovation. The foundation is positioned to fund coastal resource restoration (mangroves, seagrass), community empowerment, awareness and blue-carbon climate initiatives. Legally, its creation formalizes state expenditure authority allocated in the budget and may engage environmental regulation, coastal zone management, fisheries law, and grant-making or contracting frameworks for restoration and tourism projects affecting protected habitats and vulnerable coastal populations.