Experts call for continuous efforts to save state’s coastal ecosystem

Odisha, with its 480km stretch of coastline along the Bay of Bengal, is home to India’s most ecologically and economically significant coastal zones.

- ARINDAM GANGULY, OP

Spanning six districts—Balasore, Bhadrak, Kendrapara, Jagatsinghpur, Puri, and Ganjam—the state’s shores support diverse marine life, including the endangered Olive Ridley turtles, and sustain thousands of livelihoods through fishing, agriculture, and tourism.

The vital beaches face growing environmental stress from plastic waste, urban runoff, untreated sewage, and industrial pollutants which threaten not only biodiversity but also the beauty and economy of Puri, Konark, Gopalpur, and Chandipur beaches.