A comprehensive 40-year study has unveiled alarming trends along Gujarat’s extensive 703.6km coastline, revealing a profound erosion crisis impacting 10 out of 16 coastal districts and affecting nearly 45.8% of the state’s shoreline.
From the Gulf of Khambhat to the Gulf of Kutch, and spanning across districts like Ahmedabad, Surat, and Bharuch, formerly stable coastal regions are now succumbing to rapid erosion. This unsettling phenomenon has encroached dangerously close to inhabited areas, threatening approximately 549 villages and over a million residents. Researchers from the Bhaskaracharya National Institute for Space Applications and Geoinformatics (BISAG-N) attributed the accelerated erosion to rising sea surface temperatures (SST). According to their findings, the Khambhat coastline near the Mahi estuarine area experienced a staggering increase in shoreline change, from 113.9m to 831.4m over four decades, with an annual erosion rate averaging 39.76m. The study, analyzing satellite data from 1978 to 2020, highlighted Kutch and Jamnagar as the hardest-hit districts, witnessing erosion losses exceeding 130m and 64m respectively. Erosion levels were classified into low, moderate, and high based on coastline change rates, with significant portions of South Gujarat’s coast experiencing high erosion rates surpassing stable and accreting stretches.
Moreover, historical SST data spanning from 1860 to 2020 underscored a consistent warming trend across the Gulf of Kutch, Gulf of Khambhat, and Saurashtra coast, with temperature increases of up to 1.5°C, 1.0°C, and 0.75°C respectively. This warming trend correlated directly with intensified erosion patterns observed in recent decades. The study also noted that Jamnagar district witnessed erosion rates nearly 2.5 times higher between 1998-2020 compared to 1978-1998, reflecting the escalating impact of climate change on coastal stability. Similar trends were observed in Surat and Valsad districts, further underscoring the urgency for mitigation strategies. The environmental experts advocate for comprehensive coastal management plans and enhanced adaptive measures to mitigate the socio-economic impacts of coastal erosion on Gujarat’s vulnerable communities. As Gujarat confronts this escalating environmental challenge, stakeholders are urged to prioritize sustainable development practices and proactive climate adaptation strategies to safeguard the state’s coastal resilience for future generations.
