Karnataka: Sand mining behind sea erosion?

MANGALURU: With the monsoon spreading its footprint along the west coast, the Arabian Sea has been gnawing away vast stretches of land in several parts of Dakshina Kannada and Udupi districts.

Though experts said sea erosion is a natural phenomenon, they also list sand mining as one of the main reasons for its increase. “Sand mining and construction of sea wall are the two main reasons that increase sea erosion. Construction of vented dam too adds to the problem,” Dr K S Jayappa, head, department of marine geology, Mangaluru University, who has studied sea erosion in the region, told Deccan Chronicle, adding “If there is more sand mining in the river, the amount of sand getting discharged into the near shore (which will be pushed to the beaches by waves and currents) decreases. This will result in decrease in the width of the beaches and thus lead to erosion.”  

He stated that construction of temporary sea walls too was another reason for sea erosion. “Once the sea wall is constructed in a place, the waves shift and start claiming new land in another place. Also, the waves which hit these boulders used as sea walls with force, taking along with them the sand and thus cause erosion,” he added.

Experts feel that sea erosion is normal, but intervention by people has enhanced the problem. “The best method to stop sea erosion is to have green wall by planting casuarinas trees and similar sand binding plants. Also the intervention near the sea has to be controlled,” he added.