4. Coastal Erosion and Protection Measures Including Case Studies
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4.6.2 Tamil Nadu (groin field)
4.6.2.1 North of Chennai Harbour (transitional groin field)
The port of Chennai is located along the east coast of Indian peninsula
(13.0844°N, 80.2899°E). Ever since, the formation of harbour of Chennai
port with breakwaters, the coast on its north has been subjected to érosion
at a rate of about 8 m per year due to the prédominant northerly drift.
A part of the existing National Highway and the residential area nearer to
this coastline has already been sacrificed to the sea. In spite of the provision
of a seawall, the érosion continued along few pockets along the coast and the
severely affected zone is shown in Fig. 4.14. The location of the study area
as well as another port in Ennore north of the Chennai port commissioned
in 2001 is also indicated in this figure.
Fig. 4.14 Schematic view of the affected area in between Chennai and Ennore
ports.
The measures adopted over the past four décades did not solve the problem of Coastal érosion. A highway being not only the main link between the
ports of Chennai and Ennore but also serving as the only link to several