High soil erosion rate in WB, AP and Odisha fare well

According to RS Kankara, scientist and head of the Coastal Processes and Shoreline Management activities with NCCR, the data collected across the nation on shoreline erosion is non-linear due to the seasonal factors of erosion and accretion of soil. From 1990 to 2016, the 991.47 kilometres of shoreline in Tamil Nadu suffered from 36 per cent of erosion. However, the land gain and loss were nearly equal, at 15.37 per cent and 17.92 per cent respectively. “From 1990 to 2008, the erosion was stable, but between 2009 and 2010, nearly 280 m of coast had eroded,” he said.

West Bengal saw the highest rate of land loss percentage to land gain, with nearly 60 per cent loss to 16.44 per cent gain. Odisha fared best, with a 28 per cent loss to 51 per cent gain, followed by Andhra Pradesh, with a 27 per cent loss to 47 per cent gain. Talking about Maharashtra, Dr Kankara explained that urban areas affect erosion rates, showing data in Mumbai where 350 metres of sea had eroded over 26 years.Collection of data until 2030 will assist to predict erosion rates until 2050, he added.