Context:  A state-wise study on beaches facing coastal erosion has been conducted by the National Centre for Sustainable Coastal Management (NCSCM).

Third of India’s Coastline Vulnerable to Erosion

• Overall status of coastline: 33.6 percent of the Indian coastline is vulnerable to erosion, 26.9 percent is under accretion (growing) and 39.6 percent is in a stable state.
  • As per a study by the National Centre for Coastal Research (NCCR), over one-third of India’s coastline is susceptible to erosion.
  • Human activity and natural processes are responsible for the shoreline changes. 
• Goa: Of the 50 beaches surveyed, 22 are suffering erosion and 28 are experiencing accretion.Andhra Pradesh: Of the 116 beaches surveyed, 35 are vulnerable to erosion while the remaining beaches are experiencing accretion.
• Other states: Up to 21 beaches out of the 31 in Maharashtra, 13 out of 22 in Kerala, nine out of 21 in Tamil Nadu, and 13 out of 18 in Karnataka face erosion.
• Impact: The retreating coastline would have a negative impact on fishing communities’ livelihoods.
• Framing CZMP: Chief secretaries of all the coastal states and Union Territories have been requested to finalize the Coastal Zone Management Plan (CZMP).
  • CZMP also includes mapping of erosion prone areas and preparation of a shoreline management plan for identified eroding stretches.

Also Read: Global Coastal Adaptation Efforts: Gaps

What is Coastal erosion?

• It refers to the rise of local sea level rise. Sands, sediments, and/or rocks along the shore are either carried away or eroded by strong wave action and coastal flooding. 
• Coastal erosion gives rise to various distinctive geoforms and landforms  such as cliffs, beaches, sea caves.
• Factors causing Coastal Erosion:
  • Waves: As waves approach the shoreline, they carry kinetic energy that is transferred to the coastal landforms and cause erosion.
  • Ocean Currents: Longshore currents move parallel to the shoreline and can transport sediments in a lateral direction, contributing to erosion and sediment deposition in certain areas 
  • Tides: Tidal forces exerted by the gravitational pull of the moon and the sun can influence coastal erosion

What measures can be taken to prevent coastal erosion?

• Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) notification, 2019: It aims to conserve and protect coastal stretches and marine areas, and to ensure livelihood security to fisherfolk and other local communities.
  • No Development Zones (NDZ): It provides for NDZ along various categories of coastal areas to protect India’s coastline from encroachment and erosion.
• Hazard Mapping: MoEF&CC has delineated the hazard line for the Indian coastline.
• Mitigation measures: They have been taken up at Puducherry and Chellanam in Kerala, which helped in restoration and protection of coastal areas lost at Puducherry.
• Technical support: It has been extended to the coastal states in creating shoreline management plans and designing coastal protection measures at vulnerable zones.

News Source: Indian Express