Goa's Coastline Gets a Lifeline: World Bank-Backed Plan to Combat Erosion
In a significant move to protect its iconic coastline, the Water Resources Department (WRD) of Goa has engaged the National Institute of Ocean Technology (NIOT), CSIR, Chennai, under the National Hydrology Project, with assistance from the World Bank. This collaboration aims to identify critical beach stretches in Goa that require urgent coastal erosion mitigation measures.
Shoreline Management Plan and Priority Sites
The institute has submitted a comprehensive shoreline management plan for Goa, based on extensive data analysis spanning from 1972 to 2020. In close consultation with the WRD, three priority sites have been identified for immediate intervention: Ashwem beach, Talpona beach, and Coco beach at Nerul.
The WRD has now sought permission from the Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority (GCZMA) to implement the project at these three sites. This marks a crucial next step towards addressing long-standing erosion concerns that have plagued Goa's coast for years.
Proposed Mitigation Strategies
At Ashwem and Talpona beaches, the proposed measures focus on dune protection and sand nourishment. These strategies are designed to stabilise the shoreline and prevent further loss of valuable beach area, which is vital for both tourism and local ecosystems.
For Coco beach, more intensive interventions are planned due to severe and persistent erosion observed over the years. The proposals include the construction of a river training wall at the mouth of the Nerul river, along with shore-normal groynes near the bay. These structures aim to control sediment movement and reduce wave impact, complemented by sand nourishment measures as part of a holistic strategy.
Alarming Erosion Trends in Goa
Earlier findings from a shoreline change report by the National Centre for Sustainable Coastal Management (NCSCM), Chennai, highlight the urgency of these efforts. Along Goa's 193.9-kilometer coastline, the proportion of stable coast has declined from 21% to 14%, with approximately 2.7% of beach area already lost to erosion.
Erosion has increased from 22% to 27%, while accretion—the accumulation of sediment—has risen only marginally from 7% to 9%. These statistics underscore the growing threat to Goa's coastal integrity and the need for robust mitigation actions.
International Collaboration and Future Prospects
In parallel, the Goa government has engaged Dutch agency Deltares, which specialises in applied research in water, subsurface, and infrastructure, to work on erosion mitigation. In October 2023, a delegation from Goa, including officials from the environment department, visited the Netherlands to study Deltares' projects and explore suitable solutions.
The techniques discussed during this visit included beach nourishment, sand motor technology, and other strategies tailored to local coastal conditions such as morphology, erosion rates, sediment transport, and vegetation cover. Goa has expressed strong interest in piloting beach nourishment or sand motor technology at identified erosion-prone sites, potentially integrating these with the NIOT plan for enhanced effectiveness.
This multi-pronged approach, combining local expertise with international support, represents a proactive effort to safeguard Goa's precious coastline for future generations.
