Coastal Erosion in Kendrapara: A Looming Crisis for Communities and Heritage

Kendrapara district is grappling with severe coastal erosion, driven by climate change and rising sea levels. This environmental crisis threatens to displace communities, destroy forests, and jeopardize cultural heritage. Recent events, including seawater flooding Tand village, highlight the urgency of the situation. With significant shoreline loss and the risk of losing historic sites like the Panchubarahi Temple, local residents and environmentalists are calling for immediate action. The need for protective measures, such as converting farmland into casuarina forests, is critical to safeguard the area. Experts warn that without long-term solutions, the future of Kendrapara's coastal communities hangs in the balance.

By Narendra Chaudhary Jul 9, 2025, 09:09 IST

The Threat of Coastal Erosion

Kendrapara: The Kendrapara district faces significant challenges as coastal erosion, exacerbated by climate change and rising sea levels, threatens to displace communities, destroy forests, and jeopardize cultural landmarks.

On June 25, coinciding with the new moon, seawater breached the shoreline and flooded Tand village in the Mahakalapada block, raising alarms about the rapid pace of coastal erosion. The situation is critical along nearly 28 kilometers of the 48-kilometer Bay of Bengal coastline in this district.

In Satabhaya, approximately 40 meters of shoreline has disappeared in just the past year. The historic Panchubarahi Temple in Rajnagar block is now surrounded by encroaching waters, with fears that Barahipur village could be lost during the upcoming monsoon season. The advancing sea also poses a threat to the coastal Sunei-Rupei forest.

To prevent further damage, local residents and environmentalists are advocating for the transformation of remaining agricultural land in Satabhaya into protective casuarina forests.

Sudarshan Swain, a former resident of Barahipur now residing in Bagapatia, shared that the Satabhaya panchayat once included seven revenue villages, all of which have succumbed to the sea over the last fifty years. Only faint remnants of villages like Magarakanda and Adhasala remain.

Over the past four decades, rising sea levels and tidal surges have displaced numerous families. Five years ago, after considerable effort, 571 families were relocated to Bagapatia. With high tides becoming more severe, the Sunei-Rupei forest is at risk, and residents warn of impending dangers without sustainable solutions.

Environmental specialist Hemant Kumar Rout pointed out that the geo-synthetic tube walls installed at Pentha have failed to withstand tidal forces. Gabion boxes filled with stones are being eroded by the sea, and even stone embankments are proving ineffective.

He attributed the rising sea levels to global warming and climate change, which amplify tidal waves during new and full moon phases. Rout emphasized the necessity of expanding protective casuarina forests, although the growth of coastal wetlands is hindered by insufficient freshwater supply—less than 15% during dry seasons compared to the 40% needed.

Social worker Pramila Mallick noted that Agaranasi island, which was once a natural barrier against tidal forces, has been completely submerged since 2022. This has left coastal villages like Tanda, Suniti, and Babara vulnerable to frequent flooding during high tides and storms, threatening lives and livelihoods.

According to ACF Manas Kumar Das, afforestation initiatives are being prioritized along the coast, with extensive plantation drives underway in Satabhaya and Pentha. Experts are being consulted, and reports on erosion are being compiled to develop strategic interventions.