New Delhi: Dakshina Kannada Member of Parliament Captain Brijesh Chowta today raised the urgent issue of recurring sea erosion along vulnerable coastal stretches of Dakshina Kannada district, particularly the Ullal–Someshwara belt, in the Lok Sabha under Rule 377.
Highlighting the gravity of the situation, he noted that out of the district’s 36.66 km coastline, nearly 17.74 km, or 48.4 per cent, is classified as eroding, which is significantly higher than the State average of 24 per cent and the national average of 33.6 per cent. He further pointed out that only about 21.9 per cent
of Dakshina Kannada’s coastline remains stable, a figure much lower than that of neighbouring coastal districts.
Capt. Brijesh Chowta stated that repeated monsoon wave action, shifting coastal patterns, climate variability, and certain unplanned coastal interventions have contributed to shoreline retreat in several locations. This has led to damage to houses, roads, and public infrastructure, while also posing a serious threat to the livelihoods of traditional fishing communities dependent on coastal ecosystems.
With the southwest monsoon approaching, he emphasised the need for immediate preventive and mitigation measures to safeguard vulnerable coastal habitations.
In this context, Capt. Brijesh Chowta urged the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, in coordination with the Ministry of Earth Sciences, to formulate a comprehensive district-level coastal protection plan for Dakshina Kannada and to allocate dedicated financial support for urgent coastal protection and mitigation works. He stressed that timely intervention would be critical to protecting coastal communities and ensuring the long-term stability of the district’s shoreline.