Home / Environment / India's Coastline Vanishes, Forcing Climate Refugees Inland
India's Coastline Vanishes, Forcing Climate Refugees Inland
7 Jan
Summary
- Coastal erosion displaces villages, forcing residents inland.
- Relocated communities struggle to find new livelihoods.
- India's east coast is highly vulnerable to rising sea levels.
Coastal erosion is taking a significant toll on India's shoreline and its inhabitants, particularly in states like Odisha. As villages are swallowed by the sea, residents are forced into resettlement colonies, seeking safety but often losing their livelihoods in the process.
In Odisha's Kendrapara district, the village of Satabhaya saw its residents relocated to Bagapatia starting in 2017-18. While offering security, this move severed connections to farming and fishing. Many displaced individuals have become migrant laborers, describing their new existence as akin to being refugees.
Nationally, a 2022 report indicates a third of India's mainland coastline is at risk. The eastern seaboard is especially vulnerable, with Odisha experiencing erosion along about 25% of its coast between 1990 and 2018. Experts warn that altered monsoon patterns, dams, and cyclonic storms are exacerbating the problem, necessitating targeted, scientifically assessed interventions.
