Sea water level rises along Ganjam coast

Hundreds of families in five villages in coastal areas of the Ganjam district spent a sleepless night on June 14 following rise in sea water level. Though the fishermen community was warned of hostile weather, there was no information about a possible high tide. Sea water entered Badaarjyapalli, Sanaarjyapalli, Badakaturu, Sanakatury and B.Arjyapalli villages under Arjyapalli police limits 12 kms away from the commercial capital of the state Berhampur. No damage has been reported.

Earlier, the Coastal Protection Samiti had organised dharnas before the Collectorate at Ganjam following which a team of experts was commissioned to study reasons behind rising sea water in the region. The State Government has allegedly paid no heed to the report. The revenue officials have visited the affected areas to monitor the situation.

Source: IBN Live

Beach erosion threatens Ganjam: TOI

BERHAMPUR: With the south-west monsoon moving into the state, fear of beach erosion has come to haunt thousands of fishermen living in the coastal villages of Ganjam district. As many as 28 villages are located along the 60-km-long coastal belt in Ganjam district, with at least seven villages facing the threat from the Bay of Bengal due to rapid beach erosion.

Erosion threat looms large in the villages of Sana Ajeepalli, Bada Arjeepalli, Katuru, Kandara Arjeepalli, Gokharakuda and Podampeta, identified as vulnerable to beach erosion with the high tidal waves of Bay of Bengal coming threateningly close to the villages.

"We are living in fear as the sea water is creeping close to our villages," said K Alleya, sarapanch of Arjeepalli gram panchayat. "The sea has been coming near our villages and no remedial measures have been taken by the government in this regard so far even though a technical team visited the area to suggest the same," he said.

When contacted, Gopalpur Port authorities denied there was any erosion of the beach due to the construction of the port. A port official said the port authorities have decided to construct at least eight groins (stone-protectors) in eight different places of the coastal belt, starting from Arjeepalli to river Rushikuya mouth, at an investment of Rs 27 crore.

Alleya, who is also the chairman of the Upakula Surakhya Samiti, an organisation formed to spearhead agitation for the cause, said the World Bank funded Integrated Coastal Zone Management Project (ICZMP) has also not initiated steps to protect the beach from rapid erosion. "Beach protection was the main objective of the project, but the project authorities in the state have not start work on protection of the beach yet," he said.

Alleya demanded the construction of guard wall from Arjeepalli to the mouth of the river for protecting the beach from erosion.