40% of the Indian coast is subjected to coastal erosion

PUNE: Around 40% of the Indian coast is subjected to coastal erosion according to the study conducted by various agencies.

The ministry of environment and forests through the National Centre for Sustainable Coastal Management, Chennai in association with the Institute of Ocean Management, Anna University, Chennai has conducted a study regarding “assessment of shore line change for the entire coast of mainland India, extending from Gujarat in the west coast to West Bengal in the east coast”.

A statement issued by water resources ministry states that the shoreline change was assessed for a period of 38 years from 1972 – 2010. Accordingly, the coastline of India has been classified into high, medium and low erosion stretches as well as stable coastline stretch. The study has revealed that, on an average, around 40% of the Indian coast is subjected to coastal erosion (high, medium or low).

Indian coastal Atlas has been prepared by Space Application Centre, Ahmedabad in association with the Central Water Commission. The final version of the Shore line Change Atlas of the Indian Coast has recently been published by Space Application Centre, Ahmadabad in association with Central Water Commission in May 2014.

The subject of management of coastal zone falls within the purview of the concerned state government and the union government provides technical, advisory, catalytic and promotional financial support for coastal protection works in critical areas.

The ministry had in 1995 constituted a Coastal Protection Development Advisory Committee (CPDAC) under the Chairmanship of Member (RM), Central Water Commission to study the coastal erosion processes in the country and measures required to tackle the problem in a scientific and coordinated manner. The committee has met 14 times so far and it had interactions with coastal states.