As sea level rises, Chennai areas face submersion threat

CHENNAI: Imagine a Chennai city where well-known, low-lying residential areas Velachery, Madipakkam and Kotturpuram may permanently be submerged by sea water. The Napier bridge may be seen rising directly out of the sea, while the mouth of the river Cooum is pushed inland to open into the sea before the Napier Bridge. Island Grounds may cease to exist. This is a picture painted by environmental experts on the grim scenario that might confront Chennai if the sea level rises by one metre.

With over 70% of the population living along the coast, the displacement of human population may be massive. Says Professor J S Mani of the Ocean Engineering department in IIT Madras: ‘‘The only solution is that the government must plan well in advance and decongest the coastal areas.’’

There is a general consensus among ocean scientists that the sea level may rise by as much as one metre in the next 50 years. While the reports vary in their projections of the speed of the rise, it is commonly concluded that a significant rise in the sea level would occur during the later years of the 21st century.

Experts point out that Chennai, as a low-lying area with an average height of 2 metres above mean sea level, is likely to face several changes. The Coromandel coast comprises a series of sand dunes along the shoreline after the beach. This area is of higher elevation. The elevation decreases further inland.