By Arindam Ganguly, OP
Bhubaneswar: Located near Padmapur village in Erasama block, Siali Beach was once known for its natural beauty, lush coastal vegetation and tourism potential. Today, the beach tells a different story—one of disappearing sand, damaged infrastructure, uprooted trees and growing uncertainty. Arindam Ganguly of OrissaPOST visited the Siali beach and its adjoining human settlements to take stock of the vagaries of global warming and climate change.
The far-reaching implications of sea ingress were clearly visible as the beach had been denuded of coastal greenery. An interaction with the locals revealed the extent of damage due to tidal ingress over a long time. “The beach used to be around 5km away from our village. Now, every year, the sea comes closer,” said Batakrushna Patra, a resident of the Siali area.
His words reflect the anxiety shared by many villagers who have watched their surroundings change over the years. Casuarina plantations, once an important natural barrier against coastal hazards, have suffered damage in vulnerable stretches. A watchtower constructed in 2008 also deteriorated and eventually had to be dismantled, according to Patra.
Patra said, “The repeated threat of extreme weather, coupled with saline water and waterlogging, has made other forms of farming increasingly difficult. As a result, many families face shrinking livelihood opportunities and growing uncertainty about their income, food security and future.” For the residents, these losses represent more than damaged tourist facilities.
They signal the gradual weakening of the natural and physical barriers that once offered a measure of protection against the sea. The threat does not end at the shoreline. Heavy rainfall and cyclonic weather regularly raise fears of flooding in Padmapur and neighbouring coastal settlements.
Houses get inundated, agricultural activities disrupted and families forced to abandon their homes temporarily. Nirmalendu Nanda, a resident of Padmapur panchayat, said more than 5,000 people in the area are affected when cyclones or heavy rainfall strike.
“Whenever there is heavy rain or even a small cyclone, we have to leave the area and move to a shelter,” he said. Each evacuation brings its own hardships. Families must leave behind their belongings, interrupt their work and worry about their homes and crops.
Children’s education and farmers’ daily routines are disrupted, while people dependent on agriculture face the pos sibility of losing an entire season’s earnings. The conditions in cyclone shelters add to their concerns. One villager said families often struggle to obtain sufficient food and drinking water during prolonged stays.
Cyclone shelters and evacuation systems are essential for saving lives, but residents believe emergency arrangements alone cannot guarantee a secure future. They need protection that begins before disaster strikes. For fish farmers in Siali and neighbouring coastal villages, the constant threat of severe natural vagaries has made fish farming increasingly difficult and uncertain.
Strong waves, heavy rainfall and sudden changes in water salinity can damage ponds, destroy fish stocks and wash away months of investment. With no certainty about when the next cyclone will strike, maintaining fish farms has become a risky undertaking, as a single disaster can cause substantial financial losses.
Raising concern over lack of sustainable coastal conservation methods, Nandi Gopal, another resident, said, “Temporary measures such as sandbags have been used to limit damage along vulnerable stretches but whether these barriers can withstand powerful waves and major cyclones is a big question.”
The devastating memory of the 1999 Odisha Super Cyclone remains deeply embedded in the region’s collective consciousness. For coastal families, the fear is not limited to another catastrophic storm. It is also the cumulative impact of repeated cyclones, high tides, heavy rainfall and gradual shoreline erosion.
Environment expert JK Panigrahi said, “Siali Beach and neighbouring villages, including Ramatara, Ambiki and Gadharishpur under Erasama block, are facing increasing coastal erosion due to strong waves, cyclones, rising sea levels and potentially harmful human activities.
Local environment activist Bapi Gochhayat stressed the importance of planting suitable coastal vegetation, including Han tala plants (Phoenix paludosa), to help reduce damage from cyclones and other environmental pressures. He also called for collective action against plastic pollution and other threats to the coastal ecosystem.
Connectivity and infrastructure remain important concerns for Siali’s residents. Local environmental activist Arun Kumar Behera said a previous government had proposed a project worth approximately Rs 50 crore to construct an embankment connecting Jatadhara in the Paradip area with Alakha Munda. He expressed disappointment over the project’s lack of progress.
They have also expressed disappointment that nearby vulnerable settlements do not appear to be adequately served by the coastal highway development they had hoped would improve connectivity and resilience.
Any such infrastructure must be planned carefully to avoid obstructing natural drainage or creating additional environmental risks.
Balikuda-Erasama MLA Sarada Prasanna Jena said the proposed embankment remained in the planning stage and assured that necessary steps would be taken to move it forward.
Meanwhile, Sutanu Thakur, State Project Director of the Odisha State Disaster Management Authority (OSDMA), explained that the State Disaster Mitigation Fund supports initiatives designed to reduce disaster risks, strengthen community resilience and minimise the impact of future disasters.
