Groynes

Published on 05 Mar 2025

• To address coastal erosion in Poonthura, Trivandrum, the Kerala irrigation department plans to construct 8 groynes at a cost of ₹17.5 crores.

• Groynes are human-made coastal defence structures that help limit longshore drift, reduce erosion and encourage sediment deposition.

• They are typically narrow, straight, and perpendicular to the shoreline and usually made of concrete, wood or stone.

• As waves hit the side of the groyne facing the longshore drift, wave energy is reduced, causing erosion on that side.

• The opposite, sheltered side experiences sediment deposition, helping to nourish the beach and trap sediment transported by longshore drift.

Keywords:

Groynes wave coastal region shore line coastal erosion india coast coastal area