Paradip, Sept. 12: The areas near the port and the oil refinery complex are bearing the brunt of erosion with the sea gobbling up land all along the coastline at an alarming rate.

A number of villages in and around Paradip port township are exposed to sea erosion.

The problem has assumed alarming proportion along the Jatadhari river mouth, located about 4km from the township.

At least six settlements near the oil refinery project and the proposed Posco steel project are constantly subjected to tidal ingress.

"A new mouth has opened near the old Jatadhari mouth. Our village is coming under frequent tidal ingress," said Nolia Sahi villager Baishnab Mohanty.

The villages that are in danger of submergence are Dhinkia, Nuagaon, Nolia Sahi, Gobindpur, Mahala and Trilochanpur.

Besides, the vacant land lying on the refinery complex's backyard remains inundated in the wake of periodic inflow of tidal water during full moon and new moon days, said Kujang forest range officer Pratap Mohanty.

"A team of forest officials have visited the spot to assess the situation," he said.

"More than two lakh seedlings have been planted on 67 hectares near the steel venture. Steps are being taken for afforestation for the loss of forest cover in the area. Already 67 hectares of revenue land at Nadiakhia near Kujang has come under plantation," said Rajnagar mangrove (wildlife) divisional forest officer Bimal Prasanna Acharya.

The sea is also clogging the approach channel of the port, hindering smooth navigation.

"Because of sand casting, we are forced to undertake dredging along the port's southern part to facilitate hassle-free movement of crafts. The port's northern portion had earlier been prone to erosion. Dredging is a routine exercise undertaken in country's all major ports. Breakwater system has been put in place to plug the advancing sea," said Paradip Port Trust traffic manager Damodar Nayak.

The forest clearance exercise, as part of land acquisition drive for the Posco project, has had an adverse environmental effect in three gram panchayats earmarked for the steel venture.

With the forest cover almost wiped out along the strategic Jatadhari river mouth, ingress of tidal water surging into the denuded areas has become a routine feature.

Jagatsinghpur collector Yamini Sarangi said: "The Paradip civil administration has submitted a fact-finding report on the extent of sea erosion in and around the Paradip areas. We are seeking the services of experts for an in-depth study of the sea erosion and permanent measures to contain it."