2.13. Odisha

Question 1

How long is the Odisha coastline?

Answer 1

450km

Question 2

Where is the Odisha coastline found?

Answer 2

North-east India

Question 3

What are the opportunities for human development?

Answer 3

• coastline is attractive for human settlement
• there are large opportunities dependent on the coastline for resources such as shrimp farming
• mangrove ecosystems provide fuel wood, land for reclamation for cultivation and timber - 1435km squared off mangrove forest
• many people employed in coastal fishing
• tourism is important
• opportunities for offshore oil and natural gas

Question 4

What are the risks for human occupation and development?

Answer 4

• urbanisation, maritime transport, fishing, tourism, mining and offshore oil and gas production have led to resource exploitation
• there are extreme tidal variations, frequent tropical cyclones and the area is at significant risk of sea level rise
• between 1990 and 2015 the shoreline receded 10-15m per year
• majority of state’s pop live on coastal plain -> increased vulnerability to tsunamis and storm surges

Question 5

Responses of resilience, mitigation and adaptation

Answer 5

• the government of India and the World Bank have created an ICZM to manage the coastline sustainably and balance the needs of all stakeholders
• the ICZM promotes small scale eco tourism activities that offer employment for locals and sustainable income
• relief supplies provided ahead of approaching storm
• broadcast warnings
• conduct staged evacuations
• communities are supported to plant and protect mangroves to improve coastal protection and reinstate habitats
• marine transport is being regulated and boats are being replaced with vessels that don’t use diesel
• resettlement communities have been set up to rehome displaced people whose villages have been submerged, however the success of these has been questioned

Question 6

What are the key findings of Assessment Shoreline Change?

Answer 6

• 46.8% of odisha coast is accreting
• 36.8% is eroding
• 14.4% of coast remains stable
• most accretion is in north
• most erosion in south -> major structures have interfered with natural processes
• presence of dense mangroves = Kendrapara, Bhadrak and Baleshwar show levels of accretion 50% higher than anywhere else on coast
• threat to economic value of coastal strip

Question 7

Tropical cyclones on the Odisha coast?

Answer 7

• October 2013, cyclone Pailin struck
• wind speeds = 120m
• > 1 million evacuated
• 44 people died
• buildings damaged, economic activity disrupted
• Ganjam -> 500,000ha of agricultural land destroyed and economic loss of $700,000 US
• thousands of mangroves destroyed -> coast becomes more vulnerable

Question 8

How is the Odisha coast managed?

Answer 8

• ICZM project to promote sustainable use of coast’s natural resources while maintaining natural environment
• joint venture involving Ministry of Forest and Environmental Indian government, World Bank and government of Odisha
• Greenpeace involved in meetings