Bhubaneswar, April 7: Coastal erosion continues to be a major challenge in Odisha despite the success of the much talked-about geotube project at Pentha village in Kendrapara district.

The project that was completed in June last year is now the lifeline of the villagers who, according to officials, are now confident enough to build pucca houses along the seashore.

"There was a time when they were scared of constructing even new mud houses because of the threat from the marauding sea. But now they are building brick structures," said J.K. Tripathy, former executive engineer, Kendrapara saline division who was one of the chief architects of the project executed at a cost of Rs 32.95 crore.

However, even Tripathy admitted that geo-tubes were expensive and hence replicating the project in other areas hit by erosion would not be easy. "It is not cost-effective which could be a major consideration while executing similar projects elsewhere," said the engineer.

However, while Pentha is now safe, erosion continues to pose a major threat to settlements in several areas of the state including Ganjam district. K. Alaya, a fisherman from Sanaarjapalli village in Ganjam, said that if erosion caused by the marauding sea continued, people would be forced to shift to other areas.

Former environment secretary Bhagirathi Behera admitted that sea erosion was a growing problem and needs to be addressed urgently. He even cast doubts on the success of the geo-tube project at Pentha.