Kendrapara: A geo-synthetic wall that was constructed along the Pentha beach in order to protect seaside villages from erosion and high tides is facing the risk of being damaged, said officials of the irrigation department who paid a visit to the area.
Superintendent engineer of irrigation department Subrat Das and executive engineer PC Rath with other senior officials visited the site.
The geo-synthetic sea wall was set up on an experimental basis with technical support from IIT Chennai and was built under the World Bank-funded Integrated Coastal Zone Management Program-me (ICZMP).
“Boxes filled with granite were part of the sea wall. These boxes have been damaged during high tide. High-tensile ropes used to secure the boxes have been found floating in some areas. This has led villagers to question the stability of the sea wall,” said the officials who visited the site. This is the state’s maiden sea wall project which was recently completed at Pentha.
Some portions of the sea wall are damaged, said Subrat Das, admitting that the wall’s fate is hanging in the balance. “A high-level meeting would be held with IIT Chennai professors. We will discuss remedial measures to protect the sea wall. Pune-based Garware Wall Ropes Ltd has also been asked to join the discussion. Meanwhile, a protection layer for the geo-synthetic sea wall has been laid. Big rock-filling works have been started in front of the sea wall,” said Das. Meanwhile, the repairs at the damaged portions of the wall have also been started, said Rath.
Locals said to the senior officials that due to substandard work, stone-packing boxes were damaged within a month of the project being completed.
“We are looking into it and would take the advice of IIT Chennai experts to protect the sea wall and the villages from the onslaught of the sea,” stated Rath.
The foundation stone of the project was laid by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik January 30, 2009. The `32.95 crore sea wall designed by technical experts from IIT Chennai was envisaged to protect 41,222 persons living in 56 villages of Rajnagar block from the turbulent sea.
The sea wall is 505 m long whereas its height and width are eight m and 24 m respectively. PNN
