Which Indian state has announced a plan to build a 'Great Green Wall' by 2030 to protect its coastline?

Correct option is C

The correct answer is (c) Odisha

Explanation:
• The Odisha Government announced an ambitious plan to develop a 'Great Green Wall' along its 480-km coastline by 2030.
• The project involves massive mangrove and casuarina plantations to act as a bio-shield against increasingly frequent cyclones.
• Odisha is one of India's most vulnerable states to climate change and extreme weather events coming from the Bay of Bengal.
• The 'Green Wall' is expected to reduce soil erosion, protect coastal villages, and enhance the local ecosystem for marine life.
• This initiative aligns with the MISHTI (Mangrove Initiative for Shoreline Habitats & Tangible Incomes) scheme launched by the Central Government.

Information Booster:
• Odisha is home to the Bhitarkanika Mangroves, the second-largest mangrove ecosystem in India after the Sundarbans.
• Natural barriers like mangroves can absorb up to 70-90% of the energy from a normal wave, significantly reducing disaster impact.

Additional Knowledge:
Tamil Nadu (Option a)
• Has extensive coastal projects and 'Green Tamil Nadu Mission', but the specific 'Great Green Wall' branding for the entire coastline by 2030 is Odisha's flagship vision.
West Bengal (Option b)
• Home to the Sundarbans, where massive plantation happens, but it already has a natural wall; Odisha's plan is a state-wide new structural initiative.
Andhra Pradesh (Option d)
• Also prone to cyclones, but had not formally adopted the 'Great Green Wall' terminology for a 2030 completion goal in this specific context.

So the correct answer is (c)