91 Odisha villages most prone to sea erosion threats: Report

Bhubaneswar, Sep 14: As many as 91 villages are most prone to sea erosion threats out of 318 coastal villages in Odisha. Out of the 91 villages prone to sea erosion threats, Kendrapara has 49 villages, Balasore and Bhadrak districts have eight villages each, and four villages in Ganjam. Puri and Jagatsinghpur districts have one village each vulnerable to sea erosion. Satabhaya panchayat under Rajnagar block in Kendrapara district is one of the worst hits due to sea erosion. Once a cluster of seven villages, six villages have been gobbled by sea. The 17 km stretch of the coast near Satabhaya is said to be the fastest-eroding beach in Odisha and only a small portion of the cluster stands. Around 600 families of Satabhaya were shifted to the rehabilitation colony at Bagapatia four years back facing the fury of the sea. Similarly, Chikiti and Ganjam blocks are the worst affected by sea erosion in the Ganjam district. Ramayapatana, Chandanbada, and Alatpur in Chikiti and Podempeta in Ganjam are most prone to sea erosion and over 100 houses including pucca ones were washed away in the areas during monsoons. The Forest, Environment, and Climate Change Department of the Odisha government has submitted an action plan before the Centre for 2021-30. Several initiatives are being taken under this plan to prevent sea erosion. As many as 318 villages of six districts along the sea coast in Odisha were included in the report to assess sea erosion threats. According to the report, 91 villages are most prone to sea erosion and 85 villages are prone to sea erosion - 33 villages in Balasore, 22 each in Bhadrak and Kendrapara, five in Jagatsighpur, and one village in Puri. Rest 142 coastal villages are not so prone to sea threats.  At least 36.9 percent area of the coastline along Odisha coast is facing sea erosion, the report said. Besides, 52.7 percent coastline is facing siltation. While Kendrapara is most prone to coastal erosion, Bhadrak is facing siltation. The stretch between Gopalpur and Chilika is in a stable condition while the stretch between Paradip and Dhamara is most vulnerable. The Rushikulya river mouth is also in a vulnerable situation.