Bhubaneswar: The Sea has been eating into the land mass in several areas along the state's coastline with mounting anxiety about the security of local residents.

Though the state government was able to check severe erosion caused by the sea at Pentha in Kendrapara district by raising a geo-tube wall (sand-filled tubes made of permeable fabrics) at the village two years ago, the experiment is unlikely to be repeated elsewhere because of its prohibitive cost.

The wall at Pentha, the first of its kind in the state, came up for Rs 32.95 crore, which, according to experts, makes it an unsustainable model. "It is too costly for a state like Odisha. Therefore, experts should start looking for cheaper alternatives, which can be financially viable," said former environment director Bhagirathi Behera.

Besides, experts have also been wary about the tendency of geo-tubes to burst open under pressure at times. "This happened once when the wall was being put up at Pentha," said an engineer, who was involved with the project, requesting anonymity.

However, the situation continues to be grave at several other places, including the Satabhaya village in Kendrapara, one of the most vulnerable districts in the state so far coastal erosion is concerned. The situation at Satabhaya turned so bad sometime ago that local residents had to be relocated to a place called Bagapatia, a few kilometres away. Even the temple of the local deity, Panchuvarahi, had to be moved to the new address.

"We have seen waves eating into the coast even in Puri and Ganjam districts. The situation needs to be addressed on an urgent basis," said Behera, during whose tenure as environment director the geo-syntehic wall technology to check erosion was discussed at the official level for the first time.

Sources said that more than 36 per cent of the state's 480km coastline was facing the threat of erosion, the phenomenon also being visible on the Puri beach and along the Puri-Konark marine drive. Parts of Ganjam district have also been affected by the problem. K. Alleya, a fisherman from Sanaarjapalli in Ganjam, said several villages, including his own, were being threatened by the sea waves, which appeared to be growing in force with each passing day.