By Bizodisha Bureau, Puri, August 11, 2016 : A team of experts from Chennai based Indian Institute of Technology [IIT] will carry out a tide impact study in the coastal town here to find a long term solution to the issue.

For the last couple of years, severe beach erosion near Puri Swargadwara is playing havoc among locals.

Odisha Water Resource Secretary P K Jena on Thursday said, “A master plan is being prepared to contain the erosion there. A team of experts from IIT Madras will reach Puri in next two days to find a permanent solution.”

Jena said the sea waves have ingressed into the coast at three places across the coast recently.

On Puri beach erosion situation, Jena said “Immediate steps have been taken to tackle the situation in Puri. Two senior engineers have already inspected the beach near Swarga Dwar.”

A team of experts from the water resources department yesterday visited the site at Swarga Dwar where the high tide ingressed about 100 meters in the coast. The spot has been red flagged by the administration restricting the entry of tourists, said a district official.

The district administration has, in the mean time, deployed life guards in the beach to keep a watch on people roaming close to the sea after the IMD cautioned that the sea wave height might increase upto three to four metres along Odisha coast due to a deep depression over Bangladesh and adjoining West Bengal.

The IMD also said the sea condition would be rough to very rough along the Odisha coast.

“Red flags have been put up at the sensitive areas by life guards. Tourists are advised not to take bath near the Swarga Dwar spot,” a district official said.

Meanwhile, Puri Collector Aravind Agarwal met Chief Secretary A P Padhi and apprised him on the situation due to beach erosion near Swarga Dwar, the Hindu crematorium, in the last few days.
The surging sea waves in the last two days have swept away about 100-metre stretch of the beach near Swarga Dwar posing a threat for complete erosion of the narrow sand bed there.

The district administration here has already began work on creating a barrier to avoid further erosion, but the high tide is making the task difficult. An official admitted that though an attempt is being made to erect wooden barricade with the help of piling, but the high tide is making the task difficult.

Meanwhile, over 100 shops operating on the beach have been shifted to other places and tourists have been barred to enter the area. The administration has hoisted a red flag in the area and life guards have been deployed to avoid any untoward incident.