BERHAMPUR: In the last two years, the Gopalpur sea beach has undergone large-scale erosion due to tidal waves. Despite this, the Coastal Regulatory Zone (CRZ) Act is yet to be implemented. Lack of coordination among various departments like revenue, forest and environment is reportedly delaying the implementation of CRZ Act.
The boundary of the light house along the beach, children’s park and almost all the hotels have been damaged due to the erosion. Experts who visited the place to study the phenomenon, had suggested implementation of the CRZ Act so that there is no loss of life and property due to sea erosion in future. The State Government had also notified that no construction activities should take place along the beach side of the road. As many as seven cases have been filed against violators of the CRZ Act till now but the court is yet to decide on them.
Meanwhile, the State Government has decided to take over the structures near the beach and has notified that no construction can be done in a distance of 200 meters from the sea beach. The Central Government has sanctioned Rs 7 crore for construction of a sea guard on the Gopalpur beach for which, the areas near the sea would be vacated and the affected persons given compensation.
As the footsteps towards the beach and the guard wall had repeatedly been washed away by the tidal waves, the Orissa Tourism and Development Corporation (OTDC) is planning to construct a Puducherry style sea wall here under the project ‘Destination Gopalpur’. In the first phase, a 500-metre strong guard wall will be constructed and all private properties along the beach will be taken over and cleared.