Kendrapara: People for centuries have gravitated toward shores, building their lives in proximity to major waterways for easy access to trade, seafood and recreation. However, climate change continues to create conditions that chip away the malleable geological structures, robbing the residents living near coastlines of their life and livelihood. The seaside villages in Kendrapara district are a classic example of this phenomenon where rise in tidal waves and constant erosion of the coastline are wreaking havoc on the life and properties of the residents.
According to reports, around 28 km, of the total 48 km, coastline of the Bay of Bengal in Kendrapara district, are facing serious threats of erosion due to frequent ingress of tidal waves into seaside villages. On June 6 when residents of the seaside Tanda village in Mahakalapara block were celebrating the Sabitri Amavasya – on the new moon day – tidal waves crossed the coastline and gushed into the village. Such frequent flooding, resulting in coastal erosion, has sparked unprecedented fear among inhabitants of all seaside villages in the district.
Same is the situation in the sea-ravaged Satabhaya panchayat, under Rajnagar block, where tidal waves have devoured around 40 metres of the coastline in the past one year. Things have come to such a pass that the ancient Panchubarahi temple and Barahipur village in the panchayat are likely to be consumed by the sea during this rainy season with coastal erosion is ruining the area. Meanwhile, the sea appears to have set its eye on the SuneiTupei jungle on the coastline and threatening to erase the green cover.
Experts said given the alacrity of the situation, it has become necessary to create more mangrove forests on the remaining land mass in Satabhaya panchayat. This is the only way through which the tidal waves can be checked from entering seaside villages, and erode the land mass, they said. Sudarshan Swain, a native of Barahipur village in Satabhaya panchayat, who is currently rehabilitated at Bagapatia, said that the panchayat consisted of seven revenue villages. However, these seven villages have been gobbled up by the sea in the last five decades, while hamlets like Magarkanda, Adhasal are slowly moving towards extinction, he said. The rapid erosion of the villages has forced the inhabitants to shift to Bagapatia.
After four years of struggle, 571 families have been shifted and rehabilitated at Bagapatia. Towering tidal waves are constantly lashing the coastline and have posed extinction threat to the SuneiRupei jungle, of late. Swain demanded a long term solution to the advancing tidal waves and erosion of the land mass. In the absence of some concrete measures, people living in seaside villages will be always under threat, he added.
Environmentalists Hemant Kumar Rout also echoed the demands of converting the rest of the farmland in Satabhaya into mangrove forests. He said the geo-synthetic tube wall which was constructed along Pentha coast by the state government has failed to stand to the onslaught of the rising tidal waves. The huge stones in the gabion boxes set up along the coast of Pentha village have been washed away into the sea after the tidal waves tore up the iron mesh of the boxes. Even the stone embankment constructed to protect the geo-tube wall is facing the wrath of rising tidal waves. Water-level in the sea is rising due to climate change and increase in global warming. The tidal waves on the full moon day and new moon day are also crossing the saline embankment and gushing into seaside villages. There is a need to create more mangrove forests which can act as a shield against the tidal waves, Rout said.
However, freshwater which is a must for the growth of mangrove forests is unable to reach this wetland. The wetland requires at least 40 per cent freshwater, while only 15 per cent reaches the area during the summer season, he said. Social activist Pramila Mallick of Rajnagar said that the Agarnasi island was earlier seven km long and acted as a shield for Tanda area against the tidal waves. However, the island has been washed away into the sea since 2022. As a result, areas like Tanda, Suniti and Babar panchayats under the block have been exposed to the threat of tidal waves. The seawater is entering their villages on full moon days, new moon days, and during cyclonic storms. This has caused the residents to perennially live under constant fear and spend time in trepidation. When contacted, Forest ranger, Pradosh Moharana, said efforts are on for creation of more mangrove forests along the coastlines, while mangrove saplings have been planted at Satabhaya and Pentha coasts. “Experts have been apprised of the issue of coastal erosion and remedial steps will be taken as per their advice,” he said.