In the ongoing Winter Session of the Parliament, the Union Environment Ministry presented data that highlighted the issue of coastal erosion in India. Although the question pertained to the erosion of the coast in Karnataka’s Dakshin Kannada district, the ministry’s reply unearthed data which showed the extent of coastal erosion across the country.
In response to a question posed by Lok Sabha MP Brijesh Chowta, the ministry replied that nearly 48.4 per cent of the district’s 36.66 km stretch has fallen prey to erosion over the past three decades.
Nationally, 33.6 per cent of India’s coastline is eroding, with 26.9 per cent growing (accretion) and 39.6 per cent remaining stable. Karnataka actually fared better than the national average with 50 per cent of its coastline stable, but the situation in Dakshina Kannada is dire, with 17.74 km of its coastline affected by erosion— posing significant risks to both human habitation and ecosystems.
“The erosion of Dakshina Kannada’s coastline is a symptom of larger environmental imbalances. Immediate and coordinated action is essential to mitigate the impacts of rising sea levels and coastal erosion, not only in Karnataka but across India. The future of the country’s coastal communities, biodiversity, and economy depends on urgent and holistic interventions,” Chowta told Down To Earth (DTE).
These findings, tabled by the Environment Ministry, are part of a study conducted by the National Centre for Coastal Research (NCCR), which monitored shoreline changes between 1990 and 2018 using satellite imagery and field surveys.
A slow paced disaster
Following the findings of the survey, the Indian National Centre for Ocean Information and Services (INCOIS) has prepared Multi-Hazard Vulnerability Maps (MHVM) at a 1:25,000 scale for India’s mainland.
These maps use data from extreme water levels, shoreline changes, sea level rise, and high-resolution terrain mapping to identify areas vulnerable to disasters like tsunamis and storm surges.
The NCCR study showed that 17.74 km (48.4 per cent) of Dakshina Kannada’s 36.66 km coastline was eroded from 1990 to 2018. Udupi district experienced 34.7 per cent erosion (34.96 km of 100.71 km), while Uttara Kannada reported the lowest erosion at 12.3 per cent (21.64 km of 175.65 km).
What’s eroding our coasts?
The erosion of coastal lands is attributed to a combination of natural and human-induced factors —
Rising sea levels: Driven by climate change, higher sea levels amplify storm surges and coastal flooding.
Sand mining and infrastructure projects: Unregulated sand extraction and construction of ports, seawalls, and breakwaters disrupt sediment flow, accelerating erosion in vulnerable areas.
Mangrove depletion: The loss of natural barriers like mangroves leaves the coastline exposed to wave action.
Cyclonic activity: The region has seen an increase in cyclonic events, further destabilising coastal systems.
Economic and social fallout: The erosion poses severe threats to livelihoods, particularly for fishing communities dependent on coastal stability. Infrastructure such as roads, housing and ports faces significant damage, while biodiversity hotspots, including estuaries and mangroves, are at risk of collapse.
Mitigation efforts in Karnataka
The Karnataka government has prepared a Shoreline Management Plan as per the Coastal Regulation Zone Notification (CRZ), 2019, and is implementing the World Bank-funded Karnataka Strengthening Coastal Resilience and the Economy (K-SHORE) project. This initiative aims to strengthen coastal protection and enhance resilience against natural disasters, safeguard the livelihoods of coastal communities through sustainable practices, address marine plastic pollution, a growing issue along Karnataka’s beaches.
Meanwhile, experts argue that isolated measures would not suffice. A multi-pronged approach involving ecosystem restoration (such as mangrove replantation and sand dune protection), stricter regulation of sand mining, and innovative solutions like artificial reefs and eco-friendly breakwaters is crucial.
Additionally, community-driven conservation programs and real-time erosion monitoring using artificial intelligence (AI) can provide sustainable solutions. A more realistic perspective on sea erosion has been provided by the marine geologists from Mangalore University.
According to a paper co-authored by Dr. K. S. Jayappa and K.R. Subramanyam, sea erosion is a natural phenomenon that is nothing more than the interaction of water, wind, and sand. This process aids the sea in maintaining the delicate balance of the coastal ecosystem; if man-made structures are built in the sea or on the beach, this process will be hindered, and the sea will find alternative ways to survive.
Much needed paradigm shift
The old designs of constructing concrete sea walls, dumping boulders on the sea shore and even building coastal structures have failed — and these were the strategies used by the government to prevent coastal erosion for the past 30 years.
Engineers from the Minor Irrigation Department have advised against allowing any human habitation on vulnerable stretches like Kotepura, as well as all other places like Udyavara in Udupi taluk, Kodi Bengre in Kundapur taluk, Mazhali in Uttara Kannada, Canacona, and Porvorim in Goa, but political interests have overshadowed their warnings.
Coastal erosion is a natural phenomenon observed in several locations along Karnataka’s coast, including Kotepura near Ullal, Padukere near Udupi, Rabindranath Tagore Beach in Karwar, and Ganesh Bagh Beach in Ankola.
Despite spending over Rs. 200 crore over the past 25 years, the state government is now considering a different kinds of coastal structures to be laid down that will help re-formation of beaches, sand replenishment and nourishing the shoreline of the 40-kilometre-long coastline in patches along the 303 kilometers of coast in Karnataka.
However, environmental activists argue that this money would be better spent on building a safe, well-equipped township away from the coast, out of the reach of the CRZ, ensuring the safety of residents during the monsoon.