At a recent

The eastern coast of Surabaya, the second largest city of Indonesia, is highly contaminated with mercury, cadmium, copper and lead. The latest findings have been reported by two researchers from

This is a true story of the beautiful state of Kerala, of its famed backwaters and wetlands, of its rain swept Western Ghats. It also speaks of the grime beneath the hype of a state which is home to "a generation on crutches", and of the environmental h

To check the problem of sea erosion in the coastal areas of Sri &Lanka, the forest department has come up with a new remedy. It is going to create forests on beaches that are most affected by

The campaign to save coastal areas from the stranglehold of aquaculture has received a shot in the arm with a recent Supreme Court order, passed on August 24, directing all coastal states

A beach resort proposed to be situated within a protected area near Puri has drawn the wrath of environmentalists who contend it will ruin the natural habitat of such endangered species as the black buck

The king of Khurda started conservation work on the 750 year old Sun Temple in Konark in 1793, but the main porch is still in a dilapidated state

Coastal Erosion

Sri Lanka’s experience with coastal erosion dates back to 1920. Today coastal erosion is an acute problem, disrupting fishing navigation" recreation and many other coast-based activities.

Over 600 acres of land in the Kakinada suburbs have disappeared in the last four decades because of sea erosion. Residents of villages such as Uppada, Komaragiri, Subbam Peta and surrounding areas in the Kothapally mandal are deeply worried at the continuing erosion of the coastline. Successive governments have taken no permanent measures to avert sea erosion. Komaragiri lost 349.29 acres of land to the sea, Uppada 126.58 acres and Subbumpeta 129.48 acres along with other villages. Uppada and nearby villages also suffer heavily whenever cyclones and storms occur. In the recent cyclone, tidal waves destroyed 1,200 houses including pucca buildings. It is mostly fisherfolk and small farmers who are affected by the vagaries of weather. A study conducted in 1992 by the Central Water Power Research Station of Pune revealed that the Hope Island which was formed near Kakinada with was responsible for the continuing sea erosion. The island is blocking the natural movement of waves and this is causing sea erosion. However, it was the same island which saved Kakinada from the Tsunami attack. The survey also revealed that the construction of a fishing harbour at Vakalapudi and berths in Kakinada deep water port had also contributed to the sea erosion. The 50 km coastal road from Kakinada to Addaripeta too has been affected by the phenomenon and has been repaired about 18 times. "Construction of a strong concrete wall is the only solution to this,' said Mr Rao Chinna Rao, president of the Kothapalli Water Users Association. Leaders of the fishing community including Mr Bandana Ram Babu echoed the views. "We repaired the bunds in 2007 but the erosion continues,' said Mr C. N. Murty, executive engineer of the Kakinada roads and buildings department.

No proper assessment of damage by port


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