Can the sea be stopped from moving forward? This question now worries many coastal families in Andhra Pradesh. Every year, powerful waves eat away fertile land, coconut groves, and entire villages along the shoreline. As the sea slowly advances, residents watch helplessly as acres of farmland disappear into the water.
To slow this growing threat, authorities have launched an experimental coastal protection project using Geo Tube technology. Officials began constructing a one-kilometre-long protective wall to reduce wave impact and control erosion. The project aims to protect villages that face constant danger from the sea.
Villages Already Lost to the Sea
In West Godavari district’s Narasapuram mandal, villages like Chinnamainavanilanka, Biyyaputippa, and Pedamainavanilanka once had vast coconut and casuarina plantations. Today, most of those lands lie underwater. Continuous erosion destroyed livelihoods and forced families to abandon fertile plots.
Seeing the scale of damage, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman approved plans to build a permanent protection wall. Officials selected Geo Tube technology after successful trials in Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, and Tamil Nadu.
Delayed Start, Renewed Push
The project received approval in 2022. A private company sanctioned ₹13.50 crore under corporate social responsibility funds. However, work stalled for months due to administrative delays. After a fresh intervention, construction finally began last year.
Experts from IIT Madras designed the pilot model. In May, engineers launched construction at Pedamainavanilanka. A Pune-based firm started the work and confirmed that 73 per cent of the wall will be ready by February.
Why the Coast Is Shrinking Faster
After the 2004 tsunami, wave intensity increased sharply in the Narasapuram region. Since then, erosion has worsened during cyclones and rough sea conditions. Villages like Chinalanka and old Biyyaputippa have almost vanished.
Three years ago, the sea stayed nearly three kilometres away from PMLanka. Today, it stands just one kilometre from the village. Out of the district’s 19-kilometre coastline, erosion threatens large sections.
Pilot Wall Shows Early Results
Authorities completed 600 metres of the protection wall in the first phase. Engineers used stone, sand, fibre ropes, and Geo Tubes to absorb wave energy. Early observations suggest reduced wave force near the protected stretch.
Union Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has assured support for extending the wall up to five kilometres if the pilot proves successful. Officials hope the barrier will shield villages and farmlands from further loss.
For coastal families, the project brings cautious hope. While the sea cannot be stopped entirely, experts believe the right technology can slow its advance and protect lives, land, and livelihoods.
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