Coastal Erosion Crisis in Mangalore: Innovative Engineering Solutions

The impact of coastal erosion in Mangalore calls for innovative and sustainable solutions.

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News Summary

Mangalore faces a severe coastal erosion crisis with nearly 50% of Dakshina Kannada’s shoreline affected. Recent studies indicate high erosion rates, threatening properties and vital port operations. The K-SHORE Project and Trimble Marine Construction Systems are highlighting innovative approaches to combat this issue, such as realigning breakwaters and constructing offshore reefs. However, local communities are advocating for sustainable solutions like green walls to support their livelihoods amidst ongoing environmental challenges.

Coastal Erosion Crisis in Mangalore: A Call for Innovative Solutions

With nearly 50% of Dakshina Kannada’s shoreline impacted by erosion, Mangalore is grappling with a significant environmental crisis that threatens both property and vital port operations. Recent studies reveal that Dakshina Kannada ranks as having the highest erosion rate among Karnataka’s coastal districts, with findings indicating that 17.74 km (or 48.4%) of its 36.66 km coastline suffered erosion from 1990 to 2018.

The High-Stakes Struggle Against Coastal Erosion

The urgent need for action is evident as the Indian National Centre for Ocean Information and Services (INCOIS) has highlighted significant risks for flooding due to oceanogenic disasters. This crisis is further compounded by human activities such as sediment dredging and the construction of vented dams that worsen coastal conditions.

Between Udupi, which reported 34.7% erosion, and Uttara Kannada with 12.3% erosion, the state is facing an escalating threat to its coastal ecosystems. Overall, 33.6% of the Indian coastline is affected by erosion, with the K-SHORE Project, funded by the World Bank, initiated to boost coastal protection and sustainable livelihoods.

Trimble Marine Construction Systems: A Game Changer at Mangalore’s Coastal Protection Project

In the face of these mounting challenges, innovative approaches are stepping up to combat erosion. A recent video by Trimble Civil Construction brought attention to their Marine Construction Systems being utilized for the Mangalore coastal protection project. This initiative aims to realign existing breakwaters, build offshore reefs, and establish onshore groynes — all intended to reinforce Mangalore’s defenses against the relentless waves and tides.

Monitoring Tools and Plans in Place

With the implementation of the Shoreline Management Plan developed by the Karnataka government following the CRZ Notification of 2019, a framework has been established to address coastal management challenges. The National Centre for Coastal Research employs multi-spectral satellite images to actively monitor shoreline changes, ensuring a comprehensive understanding of coastal dynamics.

Despite these efforts, a study has startlingly indicated that over 40% of Karnataka’s stretch of 300 km coastline faces such erosion, resulting in alarming annual losses of over 1 meter at Ullal beach. The coastline between Someshwara and Sasihitlu in Mangaluru remains particularly vulnerable, with up to 15 km at risk.

Sustainable Solutions on the Horizon

As communities absorb the impact of coastal erosion, locals have begun to advocate for innovative solutions such as the construction of green walls utilizing native plants like casuarina and ipomoea biloba. In Udupi, where seawalls are absent, the land loss of 50-60 meters annually has raised pressing concerns for those relying on the sea, particularly local fishermen who propose T-shaped breakwaters as a strategic response to their erosion-related challenges.

Despite the construction of temporary seawalls covering approximately 95 km since the early 2000s along the Udupi and Mangaluru coasts, the persistence of erosion signals the need for more durable solutions. Environmentalists have also suggested relocating infrastructures built within 200 meters of the high tide line due to increasing sea erosion risks.

A Community Under Siege

With erosion having led to the loss of over 100 houses along Mangaluru’s coast, residents in vulnerable areas like Batapady confront dire financial challenges amidst encroaching waters. Ongoing preparations by coastal authorities aim to assist local fishermen in navigating severe weather conditions like cyclones, ensuring their livelihoods remain intact in these shifting environments.

As the crisis escalates, the call for innovative engineering solutions and community-based strategies to mitigate coastal erosion in Mangalore has never been more critical. With advanced technologies like Trimble Marine Construction Systems making waves in construction, the path towards safeguarding Karnataka’s coastline and its communities looks promising, yet urgent action is needed to avert further losses as the struggle against nature continues.