Initiatives/ Scheme
Climate Resilient Village Programme
- Context: Killai village in Cuddalore district, Tamil Nadu, became the state’s first fully operational Climate Resilient Village on 22 July 2026.
About the Climate Resilient Village Programme
- The Climate Resilient Village Programme is a flagship scheme of the Tamil Nadu Government, launched in 2022–23.
-
- The programme covers 11 villages in 11 districts, with Killai becoming the first village to fully implement all its components.
- It aims to reduce the impact of climate change in coastal villages.
-
- The programme addresses major climate-related challenges such as: Cyclones, Sea-level rise, Saline water intrusion, Coastal erosion, Loss of biodiversity.
- It also promotes sustainable livelihoods, especially for fishing communities.
- The project was carried out under the Tamil Nadu Climate Change Mission of the Department of Environment and Climate Change.
- It focused on ecosystem restoration, renewable energy, and community participation to improve resilience against climate change.
Project Components in Killai
- The project was completed at a cost of ₹230.15 lakh.
- Funding was provided through the District Climate Change Mission and Corporate Environmental Responsibility (CER).
-
- An important part of the project was the restoration of a 3-km stretch of the Buckingham Canal, which was completed on 14 March 2026.
- The canal restoration included: Desilting the canal, Removing plastic waste
- The project also removed the invasive plant species Prosopis juliflora.
- More than 3,000 native mangrove saplings were planted to restore the coastal ecosystem.
- The village development plan includes:
- Solar panels on public buildings, Solar street lights, Solar parks, Solar dryers, Solar-powered cold storage facilities.
Significance
- Mangroves are salt-tolerant coastal plants that grow in intertidal areas. They help protect coastlines by reducing erosion, trapping sediments, and providing habitat for many species.
- Prosopis juliflora is an invasive plant species found in many dry and coastal regions of India. It is removed because it harms native vegetation and ecosystems.
