KARWAR: As the Southwest Monsoon lashes the coast, the familiar terror of sea erosion has returned to Uttara Kannada, swallowing homes and livelihoods in 15 villages. Official data shows that 11.3km of coastal land has already been eroded, with Harwada in Ankola taluk alone losing 2.2km to the advancing sea.
Suresh, a resident of Harwada, was awakened by the roar of torrential rain and crashing waves, and he found seawater gushing into his house. In a desperate race against time, he and his family managed to salvage wooden doors, windows, and roof tiles before shifting to safety. Moments later, they witnessed their house being battered by the waves.
Similarly, dozens of houses across the coastal belt stand denuded, half-collapsed or completely abandoned – all victims of an annual crisis that has only intensified in recent years. In Belambara village, also in Ankola taluk, at least three dozen houses are on the verge of collapse, while many more have already been deserted.
Compound walls that once offered protection now lie breached, with seawater lapping at the very foundations of homes. “We built these houses with our own hands, and now we are forced to watch them being swallowed by the sea. The erosion has worsened drastically during the past few years,” said Satish Harikanthra, a Belambara resident.
“We have appealed to the district administration to construct retaining walls. We received assurances, but nothing has moved beyond that promise,” Harikanthra said.
Vijay Kharvi, another local resident, said, “It started only two years ago, with one house being washed away. Today, there are many. Women stand with tears in their eyes, watching their homes crumble into the water,” he said.
According to a 2025 report submitted by the district administration to the state devenue department, the affected villages include Majali and Devbagh (Karwar taluk); Harwada, Belambara and parts of Gokarna (Ankola taluk); Belikan, Alvekodi, Dareshwara, Ramanagindi and Kadle (Kumta taluk); Thoppalakeri (Honnavar taluk) and Murudeshwara, Belake, Shambavi, Mavalli, Thudalli and Bedrakeri (Bhatkal taluk).
The district administration prepared an action plan but never implemented it. Uttara Kannada Deputy Commissioner Lakshmi Priya told media persons that the state government has assured Rs 70 crore for the proposed action plan. “We have directed the Port Department to undertake emergency measures to curb the erosion until the funds are released,” she said.
