Bhubaneswar: Sea erosion continues to be a major cause of concern for people in several areas of the state. Last week, the marauding sea eroded the shoreline near the Swargadwar in Puri, causing panic among local businessmen who make a living by setting up makeshift shops on the beach.

In 2016, the area had witnessed a similar situation with the authorities seeking to protect the beach by placing boulders and sand bags at the erosion site. Sources said the coast in Puri would have to be protected in the same manner again if the erosion continued.

Puri is not the only place facing the threat of erosion, the phenomenon is also being witnessed in several pockets of Kendrapara and Ganjam districts. Though the state government was able to check erosion at Pentha village in Kendrapara by raising a geo-tube wall (sand-filled tubes made of permeable fabrics) two years ago, the experiment is unlikely to be repeated elsewhere because of its prohibitive cost.

The wall at Pentha had come up at a cost of Rs 32.95 crore which the experts reckon to be on the higher side that makes it an unsustainable model.

"For a state like ours, it is too expensive. We need to look for cheaper alternatives," said former environment director Bhagirathi Behera.

The situation caused by erosion continues to be grave at other places, including Satbhaya village in Kendrapara. The situation in the village turned so bad sometime ago that local residents had to be relocated to a place called Bagapatia, a few kilometres away.

Even the local deity, Panchuvarahi, had to be moved to the new address.

Behera agreed that the situation was alarming in several parts of the state - including in Kendrapara and Ganjam. "We need to find out a permanent solution to this problem," said Behera.

More than 36 per cent of the state's 480-km coastline was facing the threat of erosion. Apart from parts of Puri and Kendrapara districts, the phenomenon has been witnessed in Ganjam where villages - such as Sanaarjapalli - have been affected. K. Alleya, a fisherman from Sanaarjapalli said local residents were worried as the sea was turning more and more turbulent with each passing day.