Berhampur: The Ganjam district administration on Friday sealed entry to Podampeta, an abandoned seaside village in Ganjam block, following massive coastal erosion. Though all residents had been relocated years ago, the village, with several vacant houses still standing, had emerged as a tourist attraction drawing visitors keen to witness the advancing sea.Acting on the directions of collector (Ganjam) Keerthi Vasan V, the block development officer and tehsildar of Ganjam block visited the village to assess the situation. “We have sealed the village and erected barricades at its entrance to restrict public entry,” said BDO Sukant Mishra.Officials said the move was aimed at ensuring public safety as large numbers of visitors had been flocking to the area to witness the sea’s fury. Concern intensified after a video showing a concrete structure being battered by high tidal waves went viral on social media, prompting Berhampur MP Pradeep Panigrahy to urge the district administration to intervene and prevent loss of life.The tehsildar said the damaged structures were abandoned. Some fishermen, however, continued to use a few houses as storage spaces for nets and fishing equipment. Sources said all residents of Old Podampeta had earlier been relocated and rehabilitated at New Podampeta, about 3 km from the coast, under the Odisha Disaster Recovery Project (ODRP).Surath Pahan, former chairman of Ganjam block, said severe coastal erosion has threatened at least eight villages in the block. “The erosion is taking place at an alarming pace and coastal residents are living in fear,” he said, attributing the situation to rough sea conditions and high tidal waves over the past two days triggered by adverse weather.In a letter to the collector, Panigrahy sought deployment of emergency response teams for evacuation of families living in vulnerable coastal areas, an immediate assessment of property damage, financial assistance for affected people and measures for their permanent rehabilitation.
