IIT-Madras helps recover 50km of lost beaches in Kerala
Since 2007, IIT-Madras has helped reclaim about 50km of Kerala's lost beaches - 25 eroded sites of 2kms each in 25 villages. The initiative came after the Kerala government reached out to the institute 10 years ago for a master plan for the purpose. IIT then reintroduced the age-old 'groins', a coastal protection measure, with modern modifications.
What's the technology about?
According to Wikipedia, a groin/groyne is a "rigid hydraulic structure built from the shore that interrupts water flow and limits the movement of sediment". What makes it different is it can also help recover lost land. In India, they were last seen in the 1960s and then "completely forgotten". Then the ocean engineering department of IIT-M redesigned it "with scientific process".
Model being replicated in North Chennai
The team, led by Prof V Sundar, is now replicating the model in North Chennai, south of Pulicat backwaters. About 300m of the beach is already lost. The first phase will be completed in another week. The plan was submitted in 2015-16. The team is also involved in checking choking of river mouths. Sundar says it is happening in places including Kozhikode and Ettikulam.
