Sea erosion on Puri beach man-made: Experts

Puri, Sep 2 (UNI) The landward shifting of shoreline and washing away of a major portion of the newly-constructed Marine Drive road at Puri beach was a man-made phenomenon, experts opined.

State Environment Department special secretary Bijay Ketan Pattnaik, who inspected the erosion site last week, observed that the advancement of the sea towards the landmass was the result of encroachment into the natural course of the sea.

He opined that no construction should have come up on the High Tide Line(HTL) limit to prevent the natural course of the sea.

The recent extension of Marine Drive road was a gross violation of Coastal Regulation Zone(CRZ) norms as the road was constructed between the HTL and the Low Tide Line (LTL), a strictly prohibited area, experts alleged.

Union Environment Department Regional Director Khajjan Singh also observed that encroacment of the HTL had posed serious threat to the beach. He urged the Orissa government to initiate legal actions against those responsible for violation of the CRZ norms and guidelines.

As per the CRZ norms, plans, showing the new roads constructed after 1991, should not be approved.

Mr Singh expressed concern over the decision of the Puri Konark Development Authority(PKDA) to approve a number of hotels and apartment plans (speedily heading towards completion) by showing the newly-built illegal road.

Meanwhile, Beach Protection Council president Jagannath Bastia alleged that an illegal road was being constructed by authorities to help some builders and real estate holders who had purchased land in the area.

Incidentally, the plans earlier refused by the PKDA, were approved along with a number of new plans of hotels and apartments by showing the new road as an old one.

Mr Bastia pointed out that the old and recent revenue map of the area did not reflect existence of any road in the area.

He demanded probe into these affairs and the recovery of government funds from the officials for damage caused due to the washing away of the illegal road soon after its completion.

Official sources said a recent high level meeting held here resolved to dismantle the road to restore the natural condition of the HTL of the beach.

The state government has appointed Prof R Ramesh from Chennai, an authority over ocean management, to formulate an integrated coastal zone management plan for Puri and Konark, the sources added.

Prof Ramesh was likely to visit Puri tomorrow to make a fresh assessment of the Puri beach.

He had earlier submitted that a report to the state government regarding large scale violation of CRZ norms in the Puri and Konark beaches.

UNI