Indian Coastline

Where is the coastline of India and what is its classification? How the coastline of emergence and submergence was created? Why is it so important? Is there any further classification of the western and the eastern coast? To answer these questions, read further.

The 7516.6 km long Indian coastline covers nearly 6100 km of the continent’s land area, along with the islands of Andaman, Nicobar, and Lakshadweep. 13 states and Union Territories are located along India’s coastline.

The eastern coastal plains are situated along the Bay of Bengal, whereas the western coastal plains are along the Arabian Sea.

India’s Western Coastal Plains

The Western Coastal Plains, which extend from Kerala in the south to Gujarat in the north, pass through Karnataka, Goa, and Maharashtra. They are 10 to 25 km wide and approximately 1500 km from north to south.

The West Continental Shelf is at its widest off the coast of Mumbai. Oil is abundant in this area. Numerous lovely lagoons along the Malabar Coast draw tourists. Compared to the eastern coast, the western coast is narrower.

The western coast is further divided into the following four groups:

1. Kachchh and Kathiawar coast: The coasts of Kachchh and Kathiawar were created by the sediments deposited by the Indus River. Kachchh was formerly a gulf. During the monsoons, the Kachchh region is separated into the Great Rann in the north and the Little Rann in the east by shallow water. Kathiawar, on the other hand, is located south of Kachchh.
2. Konkan coast: It stretches from Goa in the south to Daman in the north. The two main crops in this area are cashews and rice.
3. Kannada coast: It stretches between Marmagaon and Mangalore and is known as the Kannada coast.
4. Malabar coast: The comparatively broad Malabar coast stretches from Mangalore to Kanyakumari. Lagoons that run parallel to the coast are also part of this area in southern Kerala.

Indian Eastern Coastal Plains

The eastern coastal plains pass through Andhra Pradesh and Odisha as they travel from West Bengal in the north to Tamil Nadu in the south. The eastern coastal plain contains the deltas of the Mahanadi, Krishna, Godavari, and Cauvery rivers.

The deltas are incredibly fertile and agriculturally productive. As a result, the River Krishna’s delta is referred to as the “Granary of South India.”

Three groups make up the Eastern coast:

1. Utkal coast: The Utkal coast is substantially wider than the western coastal plains and experiences a great deal of rainfall. It stretches between Chilika Lake and Kolleru Lake. A few of the crops grown here include banana, coconut, and rice.
2. Andhra coast: The Krishna and Godavari rivers flow through the Andhra coast, which stretches between Kolleru Lake and Pulicat Lake.
3. Coromandel coast: In Tamil Nadu, the Coromandel coast stretches from Pulicat Lake to Kanyakumari. Due to the northeast monsoons, this Indian coastline is dry in the summer and wet in the winter.

Coastlines of Emergence and Submergence

• The coast of emergence is created when the land is raised or when the sea level is lowered. The converse situation applies to the coastline of submergence.
• The characteristic features of emergence include bars, spits, lagoons, salt marshes, beaches, sea cliffs, and arches.
• Submerged Landforms The Tamil Nadu coast on India’s east coast, in particular, seems to be a coast of emergence.
• On the other hand, India’s west coast is simultaneously emerging and submerging. Faulting has caused the northern portion of the coast to be submerged, and the Kerala coast in the south is an example of an emerging shore, the Coast of Coromandel (Tamil Nadu) the emerging coast, Coast of Malabar (Kerala Coast) the emergence coast.

Significance

• The Indian coastlines are important because they provide places with a favourable climate without excessive temperature swings, which is perfect for human development. The following are some of the coastal plains’ notable contributions to India:
• Most of India’s coastal plains are covered in fertile soil, making them ideal for farming. The principal crop grown in these areas is rice.
• Trade is facilitated by the numerous ports, both large and small, that line the Indian coastlines.
• According to reports, these coastal plains’ sedimentary strata include significant reserves of mineral oil that might support the maritime economy.
• The occupation of fishing has grown in importance among coastal residents. One of the largest fishing industries in the world benefits from India’s access to the Indian Ocean.
• The coastal plains of India are home to a variety of mangroves, coral reefs, estuaries, and lagoons, all of which have significant tourist potential.
• Gujarat’s low-lying regions are renowned for their salt production. Goa has excellent beaches. This is a significant tourist site as well.
• The backwaters of Kerala are popular travel locations.

Expansion of Indian Coastline

The expansion of India’s measured coastline from 7,516 km in 1970 to 11,098 km in 2023-24, a 47.6% increase, reflects the adoption of more advanced methodologies for calculating coastal boundaries.

The findings, detailed in an MHA report, offer new insights into the country’s coastal geography, with significant variations across states and Union Territories.

• Revised Methodology:
  • The updated methodology accounts for complex coastal formations like bays, estuaries, and inlets, rather than relying on straight-line distances.
  • This scientific recalibration was introduced by the National Maritime Security Coordinator to reflect India’s maritime geography better.
• State and UT Highlights:
  • Gujarat: Showed the largest absolute increase, with the coastline nearly doubling from 1,214 km to 2,340 km.
  • West Bengal: Registered the highest percentage increase, up 357%, from 157 km to 721 km, due to the inclusion of intricate deltaic features of the Sundarbans.
  • Goa: Experienced significant shoreline additions reflecting its unique estuarine and beach ecosystems.
  • Puducherry: A 10.4% reduction in its coastline was noted, potentially linked to coastal erosion and urbanization impacts.
• National Trends: The recalibrated national coastline now reflects the true extent of India’s maritime parameter, accounting for geomorphological features that were previously overlooked.
• Gujarat has the longest coastline followed by Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh.

Implications of Coastline Expansion

• Environmental and Coastal Management:
  • The updated coastline measurement provides critical data for monitoring coastal erosion, accretion, and environmental conservation.
  • Improved understanding of geomorphological features aids in climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction.
• Maritime Security and Governance:
  • Accurate mapping supports better enforcement of maritime security policies and jurisdictional boundaries.
  • Enhances India’s compliance with international laws like the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
• Economic Development:
  • Facilitates more effective planning of coastal infrastructure projects, such as ports, tourism zones, and industrial hubs.
  • Promotes sustainable utilization of maritime resources, including fisheries and offshore energy.
• Geopolitical Strategy:
  • Provides a stronger basis for asserting maritime claims in the Indian Ocean Region, especially concerning Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZs).

Challenges

• Coastal Erosion: Certain regions like Puducherry face shrinking coastlines due to erosion, which demands targeted intervention.
• Urbanization and Development Pressures: The growing use of coastal lands for urban and industrial purposes threatens delicate ecosystems.
• Climate Change Impact: Rising sea levels and extreme weather events pose ongoing risks to coastal stability and human settlements.

Conclusion

India’s recalibrated coastline highlights the need for integrated coastal zone management (ICZM) to balance environmental preservation with economic and security objectives.

Due to its wide coastline, India also occupies a prominent position in the logistics sector, which is the backbone of every economy.

The government’s numerous current initiatives and technological breakthroughs speak well for the future of the maritime logistics sector.

Article written by Chetna Yadav.