MP seeks comprehensive coastal protection plan for DK

Dakshina Kannada Member of Parliament Captain Brijesh Chowta on Thursday urged the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change to formulate a comprehensive district-level coastal protection plan for the district in coordination with the Ministry of Earth Sciences

Dakshina Kannada Member of Parliament Captain Brijesh Chowta on Thursday urged the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change to formulate a comprehensive district-level coastal protection plan for the district in coordination with the Ministry of Earth Sciences.

He urged the Environment ministry to allocate dedicated financial support for urgent coastal protection and mitigation works.

Capt. Chowta stressed that timely intervention would be critical to protect coastal communities and ensure the long-term stability of the district’s shoreline.

Raising the matter of recurring sea erosion along vulnerable coastal stretches of the district, particularly in the Ullal–Someshwara belt, in the Lok Sabha on Thursday, under Rule 377, he said that 17.74 k.m. (48.4 %) of 36.66 km coastline in the district is classified as eroding. It is significantly higher than the State average of 24 % and the national average of 33.6 %. Only about 21.9 % of the district’s coastline remains stable, a figure much lower than that of neighbouring coastal districts.

Capt. Brijesh Chowta stated that repeated monsoon wave action, shifting coastal patterns, climate change, and certain unplanned coastal interventions have contributed to shoreline retreat in several locations. This has led to damage to houses, roads, and public infrastructure, while also posing a serious threat to the livelihoods of traditional fishing communities dependent on coastal ecosystems.

With the southwest monsoon approaching, he emphasised the need for immediate preventive and mitigation measures to safeguard vulnerable coastal habitations.