The seashore near Tiruchendur temple shows the ravages of erosion.
| Photo Credit: RAJESH N
The ongoing coastal erosion that has impacted the Tiruchendur shoreline for the past two months has also lead to changes in the landscape of the shore. A large pit of approximately 20 feet long and 8 feet deep has formed causing rapid shrinkage of the Tiruchendur temple’s seashore.
This has raised concerns and high speculations among the devotees visiting Tiruchendur and the public about the cause of the erosion.
Gladwin Gnana Asir, geologist from SDMRI, explained that the longshore currents generated by the waves were the primary force behind the sediments transport along the shoreline.
In the south-eastern region of Tamil Nadu, a notable amount of sediment was being shifted by longshore currents from south to north for about eight months in a year. “The breakage of longshore current on construction of manmade structures in the shoreline adjacent to Tiruchendur might also have contributed to the severe coastal erosion in the Tiruchendur region,” he added.
The magnitude of the issue prompted Thoothukudi MP Kanimozhi Karunanidhi along with HR&CE Minister P. Sekarbabu and officials and Fisheries and Animal Husbandry Minister Anitha Radhakrishnan and officials to inspect the region. Later, it was announced that a team of experts from IIT and other departments will research the site and adequate measures would be implemented.
In line with this, a team of experts from IIT-Madras, NCCR, NIOT, fisheries department visited the site, conducted a study and submitted the report to the Tamil Nadu government.
Speaking to The Hindu on Saturday, S. A. Sannasiraj, Professor, Department of Ocean Engineering, IIT-M, stated that the current issue stems from severe storm conditions at sea, which have persisted beyond monsoon season which was quite unusual.
He added that the team had already prepared detailed project plans for Tiruchendur in 2023 and submitted them in 2024. However, the current study was focused on assessing whether the existing plans remain viable under the present conditions of coastal erosion at Tiruchendur.
He noted that the shoreline adjacent to Tiruchendur temple had become highly vulnerable to coastal erosion due to the projects in Jeeva Nagar in North and Amali Nagar in South. He further stated that designs were planned accordingly that prevent erosion in one area without unintended consequences in another.
Published – February 01, 2025 08:35 pm IST