Multi-pronged approach involving local communities sought to combat threat of swell waves

The National Centre for Sustainable Coastal Management (NCSCM) under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has proposed a multi-pronged approach involving local communities to combat the threat of swell waves along the coastal States.

A report prepared by the agency on the directive of the National Green Tribunal has recommended the setting up of evacuation routes, beach nourishment, and spatial planning to minimise the impact of potential disasters caused by the phenomenon, locally known as ‘Kallakadal’ (‘rogue sea’).

The Principal Bench of the tribunal in New Delhi had taken suo motu notice of a report in The Hindu on May 4, 2024 that referred to the alert issued to coastal communities in Kerala about high-energy swell waves along the coast.

The NCSCM report said that the sudden nature of swell waves had a significant impact on the Indian coast, particularly in States like Kerala. It can damage homes and infrastructure and disrupt the livelihood of coastal communities, especially in low-lying areas like Alappuzha, Kollam, and Thiruvananthapuram. Understanding the phenomenon is essential to develop early warning systems and raise community awareness to reduce the impact of such flooding events, it said.

The report suggested that establishing clear and accessible evacuation routes to higher ground or inland areas is crucial for community safety during swell wave events. These routes should be well marked, especially for residents in low-lying regions at higher risk of flooding.

It pointed out that constructing protective infrastructure was essential to reduce the impact of swell waves. Communities can construct structures like seawalls, revetments, groins, jetties, and breakwaters to diminish wave energy and minimise shoreline erosion. These protective measures should be designed based on local wave patterns and environmental conditions to maximise their effectiveness, it said.