Fighting coastal erosion at Tiruchendur

Ongoing coastal erosion at Tiruchendur temple raises concerns, prompting experts to investigate and propose preventive measures.

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.