T.N. Budget 2025: Govt. to declare Dhanushkodi as Greater Flamingo Sanctuary, set up ₹50-crore foundation for marine conservation

Dhanushkodi road. File
| Photo Credit: L. Balachandar

Tamil Nadu Finance Minister Thangam Thennarasu on Friday (March 14, 2025) announced plans to notify Dhanushkodi as a Greater Flamingo Sanctuary.

The region, located at the tip of Rameswaram Island, is a crucial stopover for migratory birds along the Central Asian Flyway, particularly the majestic Greater Flamingo.

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Presenting the Budget 2025-26, the Minister said the sanctuary will help safeguard wetland birds and protect the diverse ecosystems of sand dunes, marshes, and mangrove forests.

Marine Resource Foundation

The Minister also announced that the State government will establish a Marine Resource Foundation with an initial funding of ₹50 crore. This initiative aims to focus on mangrove forest conservation and promote sustainable fishing practices along the State’s 1,076-km coastline to ensure environmental and economic stability for coastal communities.

Green transportation

In a fillip to cleaner public transport, 700 diesel buses operated by State Transport Corporations will be converted to Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) at a cost of ₹70 crore, funded by the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board (TNPCB), to reduce air pollution and lower the State’s carbon footprint.

The State is also taking steps to secure Blue Flag certification for six beaches, including Tiruvanmiyur, Palavakkam, and Uthandi in Chennai, as well as Kulasekarapattinam (Thoothukudi), Keezhputhupattu (Villupuram), and Samiyarpettai (Cuddalore), the Minister said. With an estimated investment of ₹24 crore, the initiative will focus on marine water quality, environmental education, safety, and overall management, bringing Tamil Nadu’s beaches up to international standards.

Recognising the ecological importance of raptors such as eagles, hawks, and vultures, the government will establish a Raptors Research Foundation with ₹1 crore from the Endangered Species Conservation Fund. These birds of prey, found in the Nilgiris, Coimbatore, Tirunelveli, Madurai-Aritapatti, and Pallikaranai, face threats from habitat destruction and toxic substances.