According to a study by RMSI, a Noida-based IT consulting firm, Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report for major coastal cities, due to rising sea levels by 2050, a significant number of population, assets and infrastructure in. Along with Kochi and Thiruvananthapuram, four other cities – Mumbai, Chennai, Vizag, Mangaluru – will be under water.
The IPCC assessment report indicates that India’s sea level will rise significantly by 2050. Sea level rise in the North Indian Ocean (NIO) occurred at a rate of 1.06–1.75 mm per year from 1874 to 2004 and has increased by 3.3 mm per year. In the last two and a half decades (1993-2017).
RMSI used its coastal flood modeling capabilities to map the flood (submerged) levels of cities based on various sea-level rise forecasting studies. Based on the flood, it conducted an analysis to identify the number of buildings and major infrastructure that could potentially be submerged in each of these cities.
in Kochi
As per the analysis, around 464 buildings will be affected by the possible rise in sea level in Kochi. Considering the sea level rise and high tide, around 1,502 buildings are likely to be submerged. These buildings are mostly residential (91%), commercial (6%), and about 2% are industrial and port and ferry terminal buildings.
According to the two scenarios of new shoreline and shoreline potentially with high tide, the road length of 10 km and 53 km will be affected respectively.
Portions of the road include national and state highways as well as important roads, such as ICT Road (NH 966A), Indira Gandhi Road (NH 966B), Aroor-Thopampadi Road (NH 66), Perumpadappe Road (SH 66) , Vellankanni Church Street (SH 66), Kumbalangi Road, Saudi Manseri Road. It also includes Thoppumpadi Bridge, Paravoor-Cherai Road, Vyapin-Pallipuram Road, Goshree Road, Kelamangalam Road, Ettupurakal Road, Parayil Junction Road, S Veluthuly N Road, Irappuzha Road, Kunde Kadavu Road, Manthachal Road, St. Augustine Road and Poojapura Road. Huh. ,
in the state capital
In Thiruvananthapuram, 349 and 387 buildings are likely to be affected, respectively, due to the likely new shoreline and coastline with high tide. These buildings comprise about 60% residential and 40% commercial buildings. Similarly, about three km of road length has been identified to be affected.
The stretch along Star Road, Airport-Valiyathura Road, Lana Road and Kovalam Beach Road will be submerged by a possible rise in sea level.
“This is a scenario that we have mapped during times of normal and high tide. If there is a storm induced by cyclones, the flood area will be much more than the amount we have determined and it will be proportional to the strength of the cyclones,” says Pushpendra Johri, Senior Vice President – Sustainability, RMSI.