Dutch agency recommends mitigation measures; Indian experts root for natural solutions
PANAJI
The Netherland-based company Deltares, which is engaged by the State government to evaluate the sand erosion along the coastal belt, has identified a total nine beach stretches as major “hotspots”.
Based on the satellite imagery report submitted to the State Environment department, the Deltares have identified beach belts of Candolim, Anjuna, Morjim, Mandrem and Querim in the North and Palolem, Majorda, Cavelosim and Velsao in the South. The agency has tagged these beaches as major hotspots of erosion requiring immediate intervention.
The agency, which has undertaken a pilot study of Mobor beach, has recommended soft and hard measures to mitigate sand erosion. This includes – beach nourishment, shoreface nourishment and sand motor – mega nourishment (soft measures) and installation or construction of seawalls/ revetment and groynes (hard measures) along the coastline.
Meanwhile, the panel of experts from National Centre for Sustainable Coastal Management (NCSCM), National Institute of Ocean Technology (NIOT), National Centre for Coastal Research (NCCR) and ISRO in their presentation before the State authorities has said that erosion was not alarming along the Goa coast, which is a positive sign.
“There is not a very big erosion along Goa's coastline which is a positive thing and it will also not require big interventions and can be overcome by natural solutions, which are therefore more feasible for Goa than any other beach stretches of Indian coast,” the panel said.
According to the recent study, as reported earlier, in North Goa, low coastal erosion has gradually increased since 1990. Medium erosion, limited during the 1990s, grew notably by 2024. High erosion has been a growing issue since 2010, with once-stable coastlines experiencing a steady annual decline.
South Goa faces more pronounced erosion along 11 per cent of its coastline, compared to 6 per cent in the north. Accretion at 1 per cent is also less significant, with North Goa exhibiting a 2 per cent accretion rate. Despite these challenges, the stable rocky headlands in both regions remain unaffected. Sandy coasts are increasingly dynamic, displaying both erosional and accretional behaviour.
