Remedial Measures to Combat Sea Erosion Along West Coast of India

The west coast of India from Kanyakumari (Cape Comorin) to Trivandrum bordering Arabian sea is a thickly populated one. Fishing is the main occupation of the hamlets. The coast is prone to southwest (June–September) and northeast monsoon (October–December) waves in every year. The southwest monsoon is severe along the coast creating heavy erosion resulting loss of valuable lands, roads, worship places and houses. Mandaikadu is one such affected coast located on the west coast of Indian Ocean. Studies in the form of field observations, bathymetry and numerical model studies were carried out. Based on the findings, groin field with six numbers were proposed, and field observations indicate littoral drift is directed towards west direction. The details of studies and effect of groins were highlighted in the paper.