Odisha Coastal Erosion: Causes, Impacts And Measures

Source: Indian Express
GS I: Geography, GS III: Environment and Ecology- Conservation and coastal management, climate change, Disaster Management

Why in the News?

Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal stated in the Rajya Sabha that about 28% of Odisha’s 564-km coastline is undergoing erosion.

News in Brief

• The assessment is based on the National Centre for Coastal Research (NCCR) study of shoreline changes during 1990–2022.
• Six coastal districts — Ganjam, Puri, Jagatsinghpur, Kendrapara, Bhadrak and Balasore  have been identified as facing significant coastal erosion.
• The issue is significant because coastal erosion is threatening land, livelihoods, settlements and coastal infrastructure.
• Odisha is adopting measures such as geotextile tubes, sea walls and sea-wall-cum-serving roads, along with climate-resilient resettlement.

Coastal Erosion and its Causes

Coastal erosion is the gradual removal and landward retreat of coastal land due to the action of waves, tides, currents, storms and sea-level changes.

Major Causes of Coastal Erosion

Impacts of Coastal Erosion

Environmental Impacts

• Loss of beaches and ecosystems: Erosion destroys beaches, dunes, mangroves and wetlands.
• Habitat degradation: Loss of coastal habitats threatens marine biodiversity.
• Shoreline alteration: Sediment loss changes beach shape, width and stability.
• Greater storm-surge exposure: Loss of natural barriers increases wave and storm-surge impacts.

Economic Impacts

• Loss of productive land: Agricultural and other economically valuable coastal land is lost.
• Infrastructure damage: Roads, houses, ports, embankments and tourism facilities are affected.
• Livelihood losses: Fisheries, aquaculture and other coastal livelihoods face disruption.
• Higher protection costs: Governments incur greater expenditure on coastal protection, rehabilitation and resettlement.

Social Impacts

• Displacement: Severe erosion can make coastal settlements uninhabitable.
• Loss of assets: Communities may lose homes, farmland and livelihood assets.
• Migration: Persistent erosion can force people to migrate inland.
• Pressure on inland areas: Migration increases demand for housing, jobs and public services.

Disaster-Risk Implications

• Reduced natural protection- Loss of beaches, dunes and mangroves weakens coastal buffers.
• Higher cyclone vulnerability- Communities become more exposed to cyclones and storm surges.
• Greater disaster losses- Extreme events0can cause greater damage to lives, property and infrastructure.
• Compounding climate risks- Sea-level rise and coastal hazards can further intensify long-term vulnerability.

Measures to Address Coastal Erosion

Geotextile Tubes

• Geotextile tubes are large, cylindrical structures made of high-strength, permeable synthetic fabric, which are generally filled with a mixture of sand and water (sand slurry).
• They are placed along vulnerable stretches of the coast to provide physical protection against wave action.
• Functions
  • Act as artificial coastal barriers: They form a protective barrier between the sea and vulnerable coastal areas.
  • Absorb wave energy: Their structure helps dissipate the energy of incoming waves before they reach the shoreline.
  • Reduce wave impact: By weakening wave force, they minimise the removal of beach sediments.
  • Control coastal erosion: They help stabilise vulnerable stretches of the shoreline.
  • Serve as embankments: They can also be used to reinforce coastal embankments and protect settlements and infrastructure.
• Odisha example: A geotextile tube embankment at Pentha village in Kendrapara district is being used as a coastal protection measure against erosion.

Sea Walls

• Sea walls are engineered vertical or sloping barriers constructed along the shoreline to protect coastal land, settlements and infrastructure from direct wave action.
• Functions
  • Reduce the direct impact of waves on the coast.
  • Prevent or slow down the landward retreat of the shoreline.
  • Protect settlements, roads, agricultural land and other infrastructure.
  • Provide immediate protection to highly vulnerable coastal stretches.
• Limitation
  • Sea walls are hard-engineering structures and can interfere with natural coastal processes.
  • They may alter sediment movement and beach morphology.
  • Reflection of wave energy can sometimes increase erosion in front of the wall or transfer erosion to adjoining unprotected areas.
  • Therefore, their construction should be based on site-specific scientific assessment.

Sea-wall-cum-Serving Roads

• Sea-wall-cum-serving roads combine coastal protection with transportation infrastructure.
• They are being developed across parts of Balasore and Ramayapatna in Ganjam.
• Functions:
  • Coastal protection: The sea-wall component acts as a barrier against strong tidal waves and helps reduce coastal erosion.
  • Connectivity: The road component provides access for local communities, transportation and maintenance activities.
  • Infrastructure resilience: Such integrated structures can protect vulnerable coastal stretches while simultaneously improving connectivity.
  • Emergency access: Roads can also facilitate the movement of people, relief materials and emergency services during coastal disasters.
• Limitation- Like other hard structures, they need careful planning because they may interfere with natural sediment transport and potentially shift erosion to nearby stretches.

Climate-Resilient Resettlement

• Where coastal erosion becomes severe and persistent, protecting the existing settlement may not be technically or economically viable.
• In such cases, planned relocation to safer areas can be adopted as a long-term adaptation strategy.
• Key aspects
  • Disaster-risk reduction: Moves communities away from highly erosion-prone and low-lying coastal areas.
  • Safe housing: Provides more secure and climate-resilient residential infrastructure.
  • Livelihood rehabilitation: Resettlement should include access to employment, fisheries-related facilities, agricultural opportunities and other livelihood sources.
  • Basic services: New settlements need adequate water, sanitation, roads, healthcare, education and electricity.
  • Social rehabilitation: Relocation should consider community networks, cultural ties and access to traditional livelihood areas.
• Odisha example– Climate-resilient settlement initiatives have been undertaken for communities affected by severe coastal erosion, demonstrating the importance of combining physical protection with planned adaptation and rehabilitation.

Challenges in Coastal Management

• Development–environment conflict: Ports, industries, tourism and infrastructure development can disturb fragile coastal ecosystems.
• High protection costs: Sea walls, embankments, geotextile structures and rehabilitation require substantial financial resources.
• Community displacement: Severe erosion may force relocation, creating livelihood and rehabilitation challenges.
• Altered sediment dynamics: Hard structures can disrupt natural sediment movement and modify beach morphology.
• Fragmented governance: Multiple agencies and levels of government can lead to coordination gaps in coastal management.
• Lack of long-term planning: Short-term protective measures may overlook changing shoreline patterns and future climate risks.
• Rising climate risks: Sea-level rise, cyclones and storm surges are increasing pressure on vulnerable coastal areas.
• Erosion transfer: Protecting one coastal stretch with hard structures may divert wave energy or sediment, worsening erosion in neighbouring areas.

Way Forward and Conclusion

Adopt ICZM and CRZ regulations, strengthen shoreline monitoring, prioritise nature-based solutions, and use hard engineering selectively. Community participation, climate-resilient infrastructure and livelihood rehabilitation should be ensured.

A balanced approach integrating development, ecosystem protection and community resilience is essential for sustainable coastal management.

Key Takeaways

UPSC Prelims and Mains Practice Question

Consider the following statements regarding coastal erosion in Odisha:

1. The National Centre for Coastal Research monitors long-term shoreline changes along India’s coast.
2. Geotextile tubes can be filled with sand slurry and used as artificial coastal structures.
3. Coastal erosion is caused exclusively by climate change-induced sea-level rise.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

A) 1 and 2 only

B) 2 and 3 only

C) 1 and 3 only

D) 1, 2 and 3

Answer: 1 and 2 only

Mains Practice Question 

Q. Coastal erosion is both an environmental and socio-economic challenge for India. Discuss the major causes and impacts of coastal erosion. Suggest an integrated strategy for sustainable coastal management. (250 Words)

Daily Current Affairs: Click Here

Rate this Article and Leave Feedback