Erosion of India's coastlines persists due to poor planning by respective states
India's coastline, a vibrant mix of pristine beaches and bustling coastal hamlets, is facing a significant challenge - coastal erosion. According to the National Centre for Coastal Research (NCCR), over 50% of the coasts of West Bengal and Puducherry are eroding, and a staggering 33.6% of India's shore is vulnerable to erosion.
In an attempt to combat this issue, state governments have resorted to constructing hard engineering solutions like groynes and seawalls. However, these structures have been met with criticism from experts and locals alike. Chennai's government, for instance, constructed two large groynes at the coastal hamlet of Karikattukuppam last year, despite concerns over their ill effects.
The NCCR, the primary body responsible for coastal research in India, recommends hard engineering solutions only for densely populated areas if absolutely necessary. For less populated areas, they prioritize nature-based solutions. In moderately populated regions, they opt for hybrid approaches.
Many experts discourage the use of groynes and sea walls, favouring 'soft' defense strategies instead. Ramana Murthy, a coastal management expert, emphasizes the importance of nature-based solutions in preventing coastal erosion. He argues that these solutions not only help in mitigating erosion but also contribute to the overall ecological health of the coast.
However, state governments have been reluctant to adopt nature-based solutions due to their high maintenance and time-consuming nature. Regional governments in India have continued building hard coastal defenses despite the 2022 National Green Tribunal orders, which urged them to avoid hard shoreline defenses where possible and to implement comprehensive plans to manage their coasts.
The NCCR has mapped the settlements along India's entire coastline to determine suitable erosion-control methods. They consider erosion rates and identify vulnerable zones to guide these decisions. However, critics like K Saravanan allege that the NCCR relies too much on satellite imagery and does not conduct enough on-the-ground surveys.
The controversy over hard and nature-based solutions is evident in areas like Arichal Munai Beach, located at the eastern tip of Rameswaram Island in Tamil Nadu. Rows of rocks have been installed along the coastline to protect it from erosion, but critics claim these structures are causing problems in other areas. Locals like G Anand, a local fisher at Dhanushkodi, have expressed concerns about the beach being replaced by waters, making it difficult to park boats and reducing the population of turtles.
Moreover, hard structures built to solve erosion might not be helping and are known to worsen erosion near where they are installed. This is a concern that extends beyond India's coastline, with around 35% of Indonesia's coastline, 29% of Malaysia's coastline, and 50% of mapped areas in the Philippines also experiencing coastal erosion.
As India grapples with the issue of coastal erosion, it is clear that a balanced approach, combining both hard and nature-based solutions, is necessary. The NCCR, in response to the allegations, states that they have been getting inputs from fisheries associations and conducting surveys to ensure the best possible solutions are implemented. The future of India's coastline depends on it.
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