Kakatpur: Destruction of natural sand dunes and casuarina forests on Astarang and Konark coasts in Puri district has made several coastal villages prone to sea ingress, locals claimed.
According to them, at least 32 villages of Astarang and Kakatpur blocks including Balabhadrapur, Gundalaba, Chhuriana, Daluakani, Beleshwar, Keutajanga, Tandahara, Udayakani, Chhenu, Katakana and Baghadia will be washed away if there is a tsunami-like situation.
“Sea invasion has become a major problem for many coastal villages of Astarang and Kakatpur blocks. The state government has identified these villages as vulnerable to tsunami but it has failed to introduce any concrete measure to deal with the situation,” said Kalindi Pradhan and Subas Pradhan of Udayakani.
Social activist Bichitranand Biswal said the Astarang and Konark coasts had deep casuarina forests and kewda plants.
The casuarina forests were instrumental in creating several sand dunes on the coasts. “Gusty winds blow away huge amount of sand from the beach in summer. The sand gets deposited on the coasts after hitting the casuarina forests and kewda plants. Continuous sand deposition on the coasts leads to the formation of sand dunes,” Biswal explained.
Gradually, some bushes and plants grow on the sand dunes. Many wild animals including jackals, monitor lizards, rodents and wild cats usually take shelter in the bushes and plants, Biswal said.
“These natural sand dunes were acting as a bulwark against the high waves and tides in the sea. They were protecting the coastal villages from sea ingress,” Biswal added.
According to the villagers, the 1999 Super Cyclone had ravaged the casuarina forests and kewda plants on Astarang and Konark coasts. However, the Forest department did not take any step to create new casuarina forests.
As a result, there was no formation of new sand dunes in last 20 years. Besides, some influential people have been lifting sand from the dunes, alleged the villagers.
“Gradual decay of sand dunes has made the coastal villages vulnerable to high waves. The state government should take the issue seriously and introduce measures to create mangroves, casuarina forests and kewda plants on the coasts. The government can provide financial incentives to local youths’ and women outfits to create coastal forests. Besides, the Revenue department should take stern action against the sand mafia,” said environmentalist Trilochan Mishra.
Konark forest ranger Aditya Kumar Mishra said they are now growing kewda plants on the coasts at Tandahara in Astarang block. “We can grow kewda plants in other places if there is allocation of more funds,” he added.