PANAJI
Rapid urbanisation, tourism-led development and changes in land use have significantly increased the vulnerability of South Goa’s coastal belt to climate-related hazards, with Mormugao emerging as the most vulnerable of the four talukas studied, according to a doctoral study submitted to Goa University.
The study, “Study of the Impact of Anthropic Pressure on Coastal Landscape and its Influence upon the Coastal Vulnerability due to Climate Change along the Coastal Tracts of South Goa District, West Coast of India”, by Ritwik Nigam, found that the built-up area across the study region increased from 83.13 sq km in 2000 to 133.22 sq km in 2020 -- a growth of 60.25 per cent. The study attributes much of this expansion to coastal tourism and urbanisation, particularly in Mormugao and Salcete.
At the same time, agricultural land declined by 8.1 per cent, along with reductions in forest and water-body areas, pointing to a significant transformation of the natural landscape over two decades. “Taluka-specific vulnerabilities are outlined, emphasizing the need for strategic interventions in Mormugao, sustainable urban planning in Salcete, balanced development in Quepem, and community-based initiatives in Canacona,” the study said. The study’s Coastal Vulnerability Index, which combines physical and socio-economic parameters, places all villages in Mormugao taluka in the high-vulnerability category, giving the taluka an overall CVI score of 30.6. The researcher notes that the apparent safety associated with the taluka elevated headland masks the vulnerability of extensive low-lying areas below the headland, including the sprawling Vasco da Gama urban area. The study links this vulnerability to the concentration of transport infrastructure, population growth, rapid development and socio-economic pressures. It notes that Mormugao also hosts the largest slum area in the state, while haphazard development and traffic congestion have added to social vulnerability. Salcete too has emerged as a major vulnerability hotspot. The study identifies high coastal vulnerability from Gonsua in the north to Cavelossim in the south, besides low-lying villages including Rachol, Camorlim and Loutolim. Colva, Cavelossim and Loutolim recorded high physical vulnerability, with the study identifying their estuarine, low-lying and Khazan-land settings as important factors.
The anthropogeomorphic assessment further strengthens the warning. Using the newly developed Nigam-Kotha model of Anthropogeomorphic Impact at Ecumene (AGI@E), the study found that Mormuago had the highest impact score, rising from 338.77 in 2000 to 358.34 in 2020. Salcete recorded the fastest growth in AGI@E, increasing 26.74 per cent over the same period. The study concludes that urbanisation, deforestation and land-use changes are accentuating coastal vulnerability and calls for strategic intervention to balance development with environmental protection. It warns that the interaction between climate hazards and human activity makes low-lying coastal areas increasingly vulnerable and calls for an integrated approach to coastal planning and resilience.
