No Tsunami threat to Odisha Coast

PURI: There is no tsunami threat to the Odisha coast. This was opined by Manmohan Mohanty, former Professor in Geology, Utkal University,  at a workshop on ‘Beach Erosion in the State’ here on Thursday. The workshop comes days after some residents of Puri town had reported about buildings along the coastline showing signs of tilt.Mohanty said the tilt may be the fallout of tectonic movements in the region. This was also the reason behind loosening of a stone from the Jagannath temple earlier. “There is no trace of any trenches underneath the Odisha coastline which is responsible for triggering a tsunami,” he said.On the occasion, Berhampur University Geology Prof P K Mohanty said the reports of high-rises along the Puri beach showing signs of tilt were not based on any scientific reports.He said nature has its own mechanism to correct damages like sea erosion. “Year-long data collected across the State reflect that there is nominal effect of erosion along the Odisha coast,” he said.Puri municipal chairperson Santilata Pradhan said efforts were on to relocate the fishing colony.The workshop was conducted by the Centre for Environmental Studies.