Team Herald
PANJIM: Goa’s internationally acclaimed beach belt of Calangute-Candolim, Colva, Morjim, Palolem and many lesser known beaches have either been eroded or are accreting at a varying rate of change.
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A 28-year long study of satellite data of Goa’s 140 kilometres shoreline reveals that almost 12 per cent of the coastline has been eroded since 1990, and that another 20 per cent is accreting.
The study conducted by the National Centre for Coastal Research (NCCR) from 1990-2016 shows that around 68 per cent of the coast is in stable condition.
“20 per cent is accreting and 12 per cent is eroding,” the NCCR report mentioned, adding that 29 per cent of the North Goa coastline is eroding at varying rate of changes while 20 per cent of South Goa coast is showing accretion.
Nearly 0.08kms of coastline is highly eroded and another 1.46 kms is under moderate erosion. Almost 15.28 sq kms of shoreline has faced slow erosion. Also, 23 kms of the coastal belt is under low accretion.
The erosion is seen in the coast of Keri, Vagator, southern part of Calangute, Mandrem to Morjim, Candolim in North and Palolem, Talpona, North of Galgibag and from Varca to Cavelossim in the South.
The study observed accretion in Majorda, Velsao, Arossim, Utorda, Colva, Mobor, Betul region of South Goa and Calangute beach, north bank of Chapora river and along coastal stretch from Harmal to Mandrem of North.
The study has further noted that major portion of the Goa coast, which comes under stable category, constitutes of rocky cliff, headlands and promontories of basaltic origin which are resistant to wave action.
“Headlands and promontories occurring in the stretch play an important role in controlling the morphology of the beach adjacent to them,” NCCR said.
It also mentioned that sediments along the pocket beaches get circulated within the headland, bounding their ends depending on season.
On Wednesday in a reply to the Lok Sabha, it had been revealed that 48 km of the Goa and Karnataka coastline comes under the coastal vulnerability index.
