Maharashtra nod for Ratnagiri project

The state cabinet on Wednesday gave its nod for the pilot project of the coastal zone management project in Ratnagiri.

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) funded project is to be implemented in three phases over the course of nine years, with a total cost of Rs827 crore.

The ADB will contribute Rs480 crore of the funds, with the state contributing Rs265 crore and the private sector sharing Rs81 crore of the cost of the project. The cabinet also decided that the government share will be spent from the district planning development committees (DPDCs) outlay.

Revenue minister Narayan Rane raised an objection and said that the government should take the local administration in confidence before implementing such projects. Fisheries minister Nitin Raut expressed dismay as his department was not consulted before the launch of a project that would have an impact on fishing.

The project is expected to contain erosion and protect the coastline, apart from raising the utility of the shore. “With extra protection for the water bodies and the accommodation places of the fishes, the generation of aquatic biodiversity will improve,” the official press note stated.