The rains induced by low pressure in the Bay of Bengal has caused sea water ingress in Siali beach under Padmapur panchayat in Erasama coastline and its adjacent village Ramtara.Sea waves have devoured the basement of a beach view tower which was under threat of collapsing any time.
Taking stock of the situation to protect the area from sea erosion and protect the view tower, the administration has entrusted the Water Resource department south division Cuttack to act urgently implementing remedial measures. The reports said that the distance between the Siali beach and the sea was around 1km to 500 meters some years ago, but now the sea has successfully gobbled up the coastline.
After the view tower built on Siali beach, it had been declared a tourist spot by the State Government in the year 2011. For practical purposes the Government has done nothing for the development of the Siali beach except building a view tower and a rest shed.
No permanent works were done to protect the area from sea erosion, rued former Sarpanch of Padmapaur Panchayat Khetrabasi Behera.
If ongoing sea ingress continues villages and hamlets of neighboring areas are likely to be submerged in the sea in coming days and the region will lose its geographical identity, Behera warned. Reports further said that a few years back stone barricading works had started on the coast to check sea erosion. Sadly, the work is still incomplete with uncertainty looming large over its progress, informed a resident of Padmapur village Sridhar Maiti.
Construction and industrial activities, depletion of forest cover in the coastline and Paradip offshore have an adverse impact leading to seawater ingress. However people complained that the seawater ingress has contaminated wells and increased salinity in the soil, making it less fertile.
The people who use water from wells for drinking water and bathing have also reported health problems like jaundice, stomach ailments, digestive issues as well as skin infections, informed a resident Prasanna Hati. Meanwhile, under public pressure, sand filling and stone packing adjacent to Siali view tower has started on a war footing. Engineers from Mahanadi south division visited Siali beach on Thursday to chalk out a plan to protect the view tower.