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Waves eating into BEACH
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Though there is no immediate threat to the Vizag-Bhimili beach road, there is every danger of the waves finding their way to the road and beyond, if the shore erosion goes unchecked, in the course of the next hundred years.
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The 30 kilometre long marine drive from Visakhapatnam to Bheemunipatnam, comparable to the best in the world, is facing the threat of erosion. About four decades ago, the seawater lashed the beach road and boulders were dumped along the coast as an emergency measure to stop the surging seawater and to protect the beach.
The cement concrete blocks and boulders dumped near the coast to contain erosion. A dredger can be seen in the background undertaking beach nourishment. -- Photo: K.R. Deepak.
Though there is no immediate threat to the beach road, there is every danger of the waves finding their way to the road and beyond, if the beach erosion goes unchecked, in the course of the next century. The task of checking land erosion assumes all the more importance in view of the presence of multi-storeyed structures along the road.
The legendary temple of Visakeshwara, after which the city is said to have derived its name, is believed to have submerged under the seawater. Satellite images have located the presence of rocky structures on the seabed opposite the Naval Coast Battery, which authenticates the temple theory. However, further research is required to find out the exact location and excavation of the submerged temple.
The present generation may find it difficult to believe that freedom-fighters used to address large public meetings on the beach opposite the NCB, five decades ago. Oldtimers recall that they used to walk for about half-a-kilometre to reach the shoreline. Today, one hardly has to walk a few furlongs to reach the water. These indicate the landward movement of the sea and erosion of beach.
While factors like rise in sea level, as a result of global warming, are universal, their impact could be felt only after a very long period of time. "The local factors like geomorphology of the coast play an important role in deposition and erosion of sand on the beaches," says a technical officer of the National Institute of Oceanography, N.S.N. Raju, who has undertaken a research project on beach erosion between Visakhapatnam Harbour and Bheemunipatnam.
"The maximum erosion was seen at the beach near the Submarine Museum and at the spot opposite INS Kalinga, near Bheemunipatnam. Developing vegetation on the beaches especially raising casuarina plantations, nourishment of beaches, construction of groynes and seawalls can go a long way in checking erosion. The wave action on the coast as a result of winds is the main source for either deposition or erosion of sand on the beach," says Mr. Raju.
Beach erosion near the submarine museum. -- Photo: C.V. Subrahmanaym
"During the South West Monsoon, which brings rain to coastal Andhra, sediment deposition is seen from south to north coast. However, when there are obstructions like hillocks protruding into the sea, construction of harbours and the like, they act as barriers for carrying the sand further north," says the Director of the NIO Regional Centre, K.S.R. Murthy.
"The main cause of coastal drift is due to the oblique action of waves against the coast. The waves sweep the beach and drag some quantity of sand forwards and backwards. After construction of the entrance channel of the port, the beach erosion has aggravated as the northward drifting of sand was obstructed, upsetting the equilibrium," says a retired Deputy Chief Engineer, A.V.L. Bhujanga Rao, who has been evincing keen interest in the subject for more than three decades now.
"During the early 1950s, the beach was 200 to 400 metres wide. As erosion increased, concrete blocks were dumped along the beach as wave breakers. However, in course of time, the blocks sunk and the sea advanced towards the land," he says.
NSN Raju
"I had witnessed Sarojini Naidu addressing a vast gathering on the beach in the 1940s. The beach was then about half-a-kilometre wide," recalls the honorary secretary of the Indian Concrete Institute, S. Gopala Sastry.
Visakhapatnam Port Trust has initiated nourishment of the beach near the NCB. It has requisitioned the services of Dredging Corporation of India for reclamation of land and beach nourishment.
Trees can help in checking not only soil erosion on land but also preventing beach erosion. "Vruksho rakshathi rakshithaha" goes the saying and what better way to check beach erosion than growing trees and ensuring their protection.
B. MADHU GOPAL
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