Asian Development Bank approves $42 million loan; Target is to have coastal protection in Maharashtra

The Asian Development Bank has approved a loan of USD 42 million, which will cover ecosystem-based protection on coasts and river banks in Maharashtra. "The approved loan will improve the resilience of the local community and ecosystems against natural conservation," it said in an official statement.

ADB said, "the loan shall be used in Maharashtra to provide works like offshore reefs, sheet piles, beach nourishment, and plantation of vegetation against the Coastal Protection and Management Project for Sustainable Climate-Resilience so that the condition of the beach can be restored to its prime state and is stabilized.

"It really demonstrates how hybrid engineering solutions that harness the power of nature, including reef formations and reef protection works with softer nature-based solutions such as beach and dune nourishment can be applied in solving flood and erosion issues," said ADB water resources specialist Marie L'Hostis.