GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF PORTS, SHIPPING AND WATERWAYS
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 5647
ANSWERED ON 27.03.2026
SEA EROSION IN COASTAL AREAS
5647. SHRI ROBERT BRUCE C:
Will the Minister of PORTS, SHIPPING AND WATERWAYS be pleased to state:
प(cid:517)न,पोत प(cid:303)रवहन और जलमाग(cid:330) मं(cid:361)ी
(a) the details and status of sea erosion in the coastal parts of Tirunelveli...
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF PORTS, SHIPPING AND WATERWAYS LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 5647 ANSWERED ON 27.03.2026 SEA EROSION IN COASTAL AREAS
5647. SHRI ROBERT BRUCE C:
Will the Minister of PORTS, SHIPPING AND WATERWAYS be pleased to state: प(cid:517)न,पोत प(cid:303)रवहन और जलमाग(cid:330) मं(cid:361)ी
(a) the details and status of sea erosion in the coastal parts of Tirunelveli District of Tamil Nadu;
(b) whether the Government has taken any steps to combat the said issue, if so, the details thereof; and
(c) if not, the reasons therefor? ANSWER MINISTER OF PORTS, SHIPPING AND WATERWAYS (SHRI SARBANANDA SONOWAL)
(a) to (c) National Centre for Coastal Research (NCCR) under Ministry of Earth Sciences(MoES),has been undertaking periodic, pan- India shoreline mappingonce every 2-3 years using multi-decadal satellite data and field validation. As per shoreline changes assessment (1990-2022)of NCCR,about
39.23% of Tamil Nadu coastline is under erosion. District-wise erosion details including Tirunelveliare available at annexure-I.
Ministry of Earth Sciences has informed that as per the request of Tamil Nadu government, NCCR has recently undertaken a study on climate change adaptation through eco-friendly solutions for rehabilitation of coastal habitat along Tamil Nadu coast. It has also prepared a Shoreline Management Plan (SMP) for the entire Tamil Nadu coast considering coastal processes, geomorphology, infrastructure, and socio-economic factors.
These reports have been submitted to the Department of Environment and Climate Change, Government of Tamil Nadu for appropriate action and integration into coastal zone management and planning frameworks as per requirement.Annexure-I District-wise details of erosion along Tamil Nadu coast over the period 1990-2022 Coastal length Erosion District name
(km) * Km * % Tirunelveli 49.7 7.5 15.1 Tiruvallur 39.66 7.74 19.5 Chennai 43.94 17.64 40.1 Chengalpattu 73.58 49.42 67.2 Villupuram 33.6 18.96 56.4 Cuddalore 41.32 19.54 47.3 Mayiladuthurai 48.88 34.7 71.0 Nagapattinam 81.52 29.88 36.7 Thiruvarur 22.14 11.92 53.8 Thanjavur 43.42 14.22 32.7 Pudukkottai 43.28 15.28 35.3 Ramanathapuram 279.96 95.42 34.1 Thoothukudi 121.3 24.06 19.8 Kanniyakumari 69.18 42.68 61.7 Overall 991.48 388.96 39.2 *The length represents the coastal lengths for analysis purpose only *****