A recent study conducted by the National Coastal Research Centre has revealed alarming findings regarding the coastline of Andhra Pradesh, with 29 percent of the state’s vast coastline already eroded. The situation is particularly dire in five locations where coastal erosion has been classified as “extremely severe,” while another 48 locations are experiencing “severe” erosion.
The erosion is affecting crucial areas, including the Sriharikota Space Centre, Visakhapatnam’s RK Beach, and the delta regions of the Krishna and Godavari rivers. In some parts of the state, entire habitats are being submerged into the sea, and beaches are disappearing due to the relentless erosion. The study points to changes in climate and human activities as key factors exacerbating the problem.
The coastal erosion has significant implications for the approximately 29.85 lakh people living in 226 villages along the state’s coastline. Areas like Uppada, Koringa Sanctuary, and Sriharikota are identified as the hardest hit, with more than three metres of land being eroded in some regions, qualifying the erosion as severe.
The study also highlights the dynamics of sand movement in the Bay of Bengal, where sand travels from Sri Lanka to West Bengal between March and October, and in the reverse direction from November to February. However, the construction of dams has reduced the flow of riverine sand to the sea, contributing to the erosion. Additionally, increased storm activity, rising sea levels, port development, and dredging activities have intensified the erosion process. As a result, the sand removed from erosion sites is being deposited elsewhere, leading to the formation of new beaches in the southern regions.
In Kakinada district alone, erosion has severely impacted five locations, with 2.655 km of coastal land eroded over the years. In 2022, a total of 265.2 hectares of land were lost to the sea. The Shar is taking active measures to prevent further erosion in Sriharikota. Meanwhile, the Visakhapatnam port authorities are depositing dredged sand on RK Beach to counteract the erosion, with fears that without these efforts, the beach could have vanished entirely.
The National Coastal Research Centre, under the auspices of the Central Government, continues to study coastal erosion and suggest mitigation strategies. In response, the National Disaster Management Agency (NDMA) is preparing to launch a special project aimed at preventing further erosion in Andhra Pradesh. The state could receive Central funds ranging from Rs 200 to Rs 800 crore for this initiative, with the Centre covering 90 percent of the project costs and the remaining 10 percent funded by the state’s disaster management agency. The first meeting regarding this project took place in Delhi in July, and draft project reports are expected by the end of this month.
Source: E Tv Bharat
