State focusing on soft engg measures

Mumbai: The state has been focusing on soft engineering measures that use the natural process to check coastal erosion.

Officials from the state environment department said the measures proposed by the National Institute of Oceanography (NIO) include beach nourishment and maintaining coastal vegetation in the affected areas.

Currently, the state government is working on a pilot sand dune project at Bhatey beach in Ratnagiri and Ubhadanda beach in Sindhudurg district.

“We are focusing on soft measures like beach sand dune stabilization, coastal vegetation, beach nourishment along with encouraging growth of coastal reefs across all coastal districts in Maharashtra,” said Sanjay Sandanshiv, scientific officer, Maharashtra Coastal Zone Management Authority (MCZMA).

According to the officials, the state is also promoting natural tourism on these beaches affected by erosion with efforts to maintain their original landscape and prevent any infrastructural development. Maharashtra has around 103 beaches along its coast including sandy, muddy and rocky beaches.

“Managing the state’s shorelines requires several authorities to work together.  Through the Maharashtra Tourism Development, we are undertaking Sindhudurg coastal tourism circuit project. Devgad, Tarkarli, Vengurla and Mithbhav beaches are the main target.

 In order to keep a check on coastal pollution in the state’s shoreline, the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board is widening its network across the coastal stretches for real time monitoring of these areas,” he added.