Geography
In News: Residents of two buildings on Marine Drive, the iconic 3-km promenade in south Mumbai, complained of “unusual vibrations” during high tide over the past weekend.
- They wrote to say that the unusual vibrations, coinciding with high-tide times, were the result of the relocation of tetrapods as part of the ongoing Coastal Road Project (MCRP).
What are tetrapods?
- Tetra pod in Greek means four-legged.
- These are four-legged concrete structures that are placed along coastlines to prevent erosion and water damage.
- Tetrapods were first used in France in the late 1940s to protect the shore from the sea.
- They are typically placed together to form an interlocking but porous barrier that dissipates the power of waves and currents.
- These are large structures, sometimes weighing up to 10 tonnes, and interlocked tetra pods act as a barrier that remains stable against the rocks when buffeted by waves.
- Tetrapods, each weighing about 2 tonnes, were placed along Marine Drive in the late 1990s to break and dissipate waves and maintain the reclaimed shoreline in South Mumbai.
Why were the tetrapods removed from the Marine Drive area?
- They were temporarily removed to help carry out reclamation for the ongoing Coastal Road Project.
- The corporation as agreed to re-install the structures.
Source: Indian Express
