Coastal villages in Ganjam are increasingly threatened by rising sea levels.
Coastal villages in the Ganjam district, including Rameyapatna, face significant threats from rising sea levels, as inadequate guard walls fail to protect homes. Community leaders and environmental experts are calling for immediate action to enhance protection measures.
Arpit Pattnaik
The coastal area of Ganjam district is facing severe threats as rising sea tides gradually encroach upon local villages, endangering residents and straining local administration.
In Rameyapatna village, the inhabitants have no choice but to relocate as persistent tides continue to damage their properties.
**Inadequate Protection Measures**
Authorities have initiated the construction of guard walls for protection, but many locals believe these walls are too low to effectively shield their homes. Originally, Rameyapatna had over 170 houses; now, only a few remain, with around 80% of the buildings being in a hazardous state.
**Broad-based Impact on Adjacent Villages**
Similar situations are occurring in other coastal villages along the 60-kilometer stretch of Ganjam’s coastline. Villages like Podampeta and Kantiagada are also enduring precarious conditions, leaving their residents in constant fear of rising water levels.
**Calls for Immediate Action**
Despite the ongoing construction of guard walls in Rameyapatna and plans for additional defensive measures in other areas, community leaders and environmental experts argue that these efforts are insufficient to address the escalating crisis. They assert that immediate steps must be taken to enhance protection for vulnerable communities.
L. Bagiraju, President of the Ganjam Fishermen Union, stated, "There is a need to raise the height of the guard wall constructed by the government, as well as to extend its length in both northern and southern directions. If these measures are not implemented urgently, many villages could face severe consequences, and saltwater could intrude into agricultural lands."
**Future Plans and Studies**
"We have begun constructing the guard wall in Rameyapatna. In the future, we plan to extend it another kilometer ahead. We will first conduct a study on that specific stretch, after which a Detailed Project Report (DPR) will be prepared. If similar issues arise again, we will undertake a more comprehensive study and proceed accordingly," said Ganjam Collector Dibya Jyoti Parida.
**Addressing Solutions for Climate Change**
As climate change increasingly threatens Ganjam district, residents are seeking solutions to protect themselves from nature's advancing challenges.
