Tamil Nadu Has 22 Erosion Hotspots, Study By National Centre For Coastal Research Finds

On the basis of NCCR's study, Tamil Nadu is in the process of preparing a comprehensive shoreline management plan. 

The National Centre for Coastal Research found 22 vulnerable hotspots prone to erosion after a comprehensive study on erosion in Tamil Nadu coastal areas. The study revealed that Kancheepuram and Tiruvallur districts of Tamil Nadu were the most vulnerable to sea erosion.  The 22 hotspots were spread across a few districts in Tamil Nadu. Eight of the hotspots were mainly found in two districts. 

According to IANS, the study revealed that districts including Nagapattinam, Ramanathanapuram, Tiruvarur, Thoothukudi and Kanniyakumari were losing the coastline in a fast manner.

NCCR used data from IIT, Madras, Public Works Department and the Tamil Nadu state fisheries department for preparing the study.

On the basis of NCCR's study, Tamil Nadu is in the process of preparing a comprehensive shoreline management plan. 

Highly placed sources told IANS, "The NCCR will be recommending different solutions to prevent erosion that include hard structures like groynes and seawalls in CRZ-2 or developed areas. Soft and nature-based solutions will be used in CRZ- 3 areas (undisturbed areas)."

It should be emphasised that until a coastline management plan has been authorised, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) has issued a stay order prohibiting the installation of any hard anti-erosion structures.

The NCCR is also wary of building hard structures like groynes since doing so could shift problems from one location to another.

In January, NCCR report said that of 991.47 km of Tamil Nadu’s mapped coastline 422.94 km (42.7%) continued to experience coastal erosion despite the efforts of Tamil Nadu government to address the issue by constructing groynes, seawalls and breakwaters. 

In the previous report, Tamil Nadu ranked fourth in worst coastal erosion. West Bengal ranked first followed by Puducherry and Kerala. 

In the past three decades, Tamil Nadu had lost 1,802 hectares of land due to coastal erosion with Ramanathapuram facing the worst effect.