Chhatrapur: Sunapur Beach, one of Odisha’s prized blue flag beaches along the Bay of Bengal, is facing an alarming threat from rising sea levels and coastal erosion driven by global warming.
Nestled in a secluded corner of Ganjam district, Sunapur Beach earned international recognition in January 2024 when it was awarded the coveted blue flag status by the Foundation for Environmental Education, Denmark.
The beach quickly became a popular eco-retreat, drawing tourists year-round with its pristine sands and tranquil waves. But less than two years later, the beach’s future appears precarious. Increasingly larger waves have been eroding the beach’s surface sand, carving artificial reefs along the coastline. These formations expose the underlying soil, accelerating erosion despite efforts from native beach morning glory creepers to stabilise the shore.
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Officials report that the waves have already swallowed 20 to 30 meters of coastal sand, leaving only about 50 meters of coastal plain to sustain the blue flag beach. Scientists warn that if the trend continues, rising seas could push saltwater up to 2 kilometres inland, threatening human settlements near Sunapur without the need for a tsunami. “This is a wake-up call,” said a local environmentalist.
“Global warming is not just a distant problem — it’s here, eroding our shores and our livelihoods.” Experts are urging coordinated action on both regional and international levels to protect aquatic life and safeguard the fragile coastal ecosystem. Without swift intervention, the iconic beauty and ecological significance of Sunapur Beach could soon be lost.
PNN
