Uninhabited Lakshadweep island Parali I vanishes

• According to recently released study, Biodiversity-rich uninhabited islands part of Lakshadweep has vanished due to coastal erosion and another four such territories in the sea are shrinking fast.
• Parali I island, part of Bangaram atoll, which was 0.032 km in 1968 has been eroded to an extent of 100%, resulting in its inundation.

Highlights of the study:

• Apart from Parali I, net erosion was higher in Parali II (80%), followed by Thinnakara (14.38%), Parali III (11.42%) and Bangaram (9.968%).
• This complete erosion and inundation of Parali I was pointing to the gravity of issues associated with coastal erosion within the atoll.
• On an overall assessment of the changes in the aerial extent of islands using geographic information system (GIS), it has been noticed that all the five islets of Bangaram atoll had undergone coastal erosion.
• The results are indicative of the urgent measures to be implemented on each islet of the atoll to check further erosion.
• This study recommended checking the feasibility of a bio protection strategy using mangroves, in addition to the conventional physical protection measures.
• The assessment of the extent of geo-morphological changes associated with each island for a period of 45 years was carried out using geospatial techniques.
• Since the absence of Parli I island is noticed in both observations carried out in 2003 and 2007, it is assumed that the island has been subjected to complete erosion during 1968-2003 periods and an assessment of the exact year of its inundation requires data analysis for a span of 35 years extending from 1968.
• This report signifies that islands and coastal areas are going to get eroded and inundated due to rising sea levels because of increasing global temperature. India’s coasts and islands, which are densely populated, are highly vulnerable.
• With the sea levels predicted to rise further, we should start preparing for building defenses to protect our coastlines and islands.

By: Vishal