Konkan Coast

Sea-level rise & Land Degradation

There are several projections of sea-level rise along the entire Maharashtra coastline leading up to 2030. Recent assessment by SCF using RS-GIS data over last 30 years (1990 and 2021) has helped to identify the critical impacts of coastal inundation along Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR) and Konkan region.

The SCF study further aims to understand these impacts in detail, identify vulnerable areas and develop a position paper that will aid Government of Maharashtra to develop coastal restoration policy.

Preliminary Results

Thane Creek

Approximately 22 sq. km of surface water area is being replaced along Thane creek by habitats such as mangrove, mudflats, infrastructure development etc. Creek is being narrowed down as a result of accumulation of sediment and land reclamation resulting in shallowing of thane creek.

  1. Indicative results suggest strong declining trend (R^2= 0.9) in Thane creek
  2. Mangrove area is indicating increasing trend (R2= 0.86) with almost 27 Sq. Km. are increased in last 30 years.
  3. Agricultural and fallow land along the western bank of Thane creek was declined by almost 20 Sq. Km.
  4. Infrastructure development and encroachment (Impervious substrate) have increased by almost 20 Sq. Km.
  5. Mudflat/ tidal flats have on an average shifted by 250 m from its original position 
Thane_Creek_1990 1990
2020
1990
2020

Preliminary Results

Dharamtar-Karanja Creek

Salt water intrusion in agricultural (paddy fields) landscape lead to emergence of mangroves in Karanja-Dharamtar area near Uran-Alibag.

This intrusion of saline water led to increase in mangroves and allied habitat by 2.5 times forming an intricate networks of creek-lets across 61.96 sq. km area on cultivable area

  1. Mangrove area doubled (40.61 Sq. Km. increased) in this creek since 1990 with steady trend (R^2 = 0.97)
  2. Saline water intrusion has resulted in increasing salinity of the area creating favorable habitats for mangroves.

Media Coverage

2021

Preliminary Results

Devghar Beach, Raigad

2021
1990

The study site is located at 17.986967° 73.034693° at the mouth of Bankot Creek in the Raigad district. The Beach is around 1.5 Km in length.

  • Erosion of the beach started to take place after 2005, especially in 2010 large area was eroded
  • Between 2005-2013 a creeklet and mangrove patch towards the sea got destroyed resulting in the loss of 20 ha of mangrove habitat.
  • Est. Total loss of ~ 55 ha of coastal habitats was noticed between 1990 and 2021 which includes mangrove, creek lets, mudflats, and sandy shores and Casuarina plantation.
  • ~ 300 m shore was submerged
  • As per locals no mangroves or Casuarina were able to withstand this erosion process and recently in July 2022 shore has undergone erosion once again.

Media Coverage

2022

विनाशवेळा:महाराष्ट्रात तब्बल 55 हेक्टर किनारा पाण्याखाली; सृष्टी संवर्धन प्रतिष्ठानचा खळबळजनक खुलासा

Divya Marathi (Bhaskar)

Online News platform

महाराष्ट्राच्या किनारपट्टी भागातील ५५ हेक्टर किनारा पाण्याखाली

Lokmat

Online News platform

Seashore Spanning 55-Hectares In Coastal Maharashtra Submerged: Study

Mumbai Live

Online News platform

Maharashtra: Seashore spanning 55 hectares, 10 times the size of Wankhede stadium, submerged in last 3 decades

The Free Press Journal

Online News platform

Seashore spanning 55 hectares in coastal Maharashtra submerged

Nagpur Today

Online News platform

55 hectares of coastal areas of Maharashtra under water

Pipa News

Online News platform

Seashore spanning 55 hectares in coastal Maharashtra submerged


Deccan Herald News

Online News platform

Climate change: Researchers identify 55 hectares of coastal area in Raigad submerged

Times of India News

Online News platform

Maharashtra: तटीय इलाकों में बाढ़ और भूमि क्षरण चिंताजनक

जागरण (Jagran)

Online News platform

धोक्याची घंटा! किनारपट्टी भागातील 55 हेक्टर किनारा पाण्याखाली, महाराष्ट्रावर घोंघावतंय मोठं संकट?

News 18 (Lokmat)

Online News platform

Coastal Areas Of Maharashtra महाराष्ट्रात तब्बल ५५ हेक्टर किनारा पाण्याखाली; सृष्टी संवर्धन प्रतिष्ठानचा खुलासा

नवराष्ट्र (Navarashtra)

Online News platform

Devaghar beach has lost 55 hectares of land to the sea over the past 32 years

 

Hindustan Times

Online News platform

Project Updates

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