Kariyachalli Island

Kariyachalli Island: Recently, the Tamil Nadu government has launched an ambitious initiative under the Tamil Nadu Sustainably Harnessing Ocean Resources (TNSHORE) project. This move comes in response to the existential threat faced by Kariyachalli Island.

• About Kariyachalli Island : Also known as Kariya Shulli Tivu or Karai Challi Island.

o Location: Situated in the Gulf of Mannar, off the coast of Tamil Nadu.

o Protection Status: Comes under the Gulf of Mannar Marine National Park, a designated protected area.

o Historical Size: In 1969, the island covered an area of 20.85 hectares.

o Current Size: As of 2025, it has reduced drastically to just 3.14 hectares during high tide (as per an IIT Madras report).

o Rate of Erosion: The island has been steadily shrinking due to coastal erosion and other environmental pressures.

o Future Projection: Scientists warn that if the current erosion continues, the island may vanish entirely by 2036.

• About Gulf of Mannar: Comprises a chain of 21 islands, featuring estuaries, beaches, mudflats, and coral reefs.

o Geographic Location: Located along the southeastern coast of India, facing Sri Lanka across the Palk Strait.

• About Project TNSHORE: To counter coastal erosion and biodiversity loss (begins in Aug 2025).

o Key Objectives: Deployment of 8,500 artificial reef modules along vulnerable coastal areas.

ü Restoration of coral reefs and seagrass meadows to revive marine ecosystems.

ü Conservation of marine biodiversity, especially habitats for endangered species like dugongs.