Andhra Pradesh unveils ₹27,000-crore ‘Great Green Wall’ to protect 1,053-km coastline by 2030

In a landmark step toward climate resilience and coastal protection, the Andhra Pradesh government has announced plans to establish a five-kilometre-wide ‘Great Green Wall’ along its 1,053-km coastline by 2030. Spearheaded by Deputy Chief Minister K. Pawan Kalyan, the initiative aims to mitigate the increasing threats of cyclones, coastal erosion, and environmental degradation affecting millions of coastal residents.

According to the Department of Environment, Forests, Science and Technology, the project—officially titled the ‘Great Green Wall of Andhra Pradesh (GGW)’—is designed as a “living ecological shield” to protect more than 30 lakh people residing along vulnerable coastal regions. The wall will not only safeguard lives and property but also promote biodiversity, eco-tourism, sustainable fisheries, and climate adaptation.

The GGW will feature a multi-layered green buffer zone consisting of mangroves, shelterbelt plantations, inland vegetation, and sand dunes. These natural barriers will help absorb tidal energy, stabilise shorelines, and reduce storm surge impacts, while simultaneously supporting livelihoods through sustainable resource management.

The project also focuses on restoring one lakh hectares of green cover as Andhra Pradesh remains one of India’s most climate-vulnerable states. With over 33 lakh people living within five kilometres of the coast, frequent cyclones, floods, and rising sea levels continue to cause significant human and economic losses. Studies indicate that 32% of the coastline is eroding, with critical stretches near the Krishna and Godavari estuaries under severe threat.

The Great Green Wall will be implemented through three major components — a seaward edge with mangroves and shelterbelts, wind breaks with roadside and canal plantations, and a community buffer involving agroforestry and local participation.

Funding for the project will be mobilized through MGNREGS, CAMPA, the Green Credit Programme, District Mineral Funds, and International Climate Finance. Officials describe it as a visionary project that seeks to build a “resilient, biodiverse, and economically vibrant coastal Andhra Pradesh.”