IIT-Madras experts monitor tidal ingress in Puri

New Delhi: Massive coastal erosion is wreaking havoc among the local population of Puri for the last five years.

In the last few days about 200 meters of land have already been washed away by high tidal waves, which are now about to hit the walls of Marine Drive road. The gradual erosion of coastal beach has become a serious issue to the coastal settlements as well as environment.

A two-member expert team from Indian Institute of Technology-Madras (IITMadras), led by Oceanology Professor Ram Kumar, on Sunday visited Swargadwar site, near Mangala river confluence, to ispect the impact of surging high waves on Puri beach.

“We visited the erosion place. The problem is due to the river protection and it is one of the reasons. Normally erosions occur during August to October. Due to this river protection the erosion is more,” said Ram Kumar, a geological expert from IIT-Madras.

The expert team pointed out that the changing course of Mangla river is the root cause of the problem. According to Times of India, Kumar suggested that geosynthatic embankment is the only solution to prevent erosion. The expert team will soon submit its recommendations on sea wave ingress to the Odisha government.