Rising sea levels to affect water table along Chennai’s shoreline

  1. According to a recent study, coastal areas in Chennai is under threat of sever salt water intrusion due to anticipated sea level rise as a consequence of climate change. A report by the Indian Network for Climate Change Assessment (INCCA) has stated that there is a 2 mm rise in sea level annually.
  2. Saltwater intrusion is the flow of seawater into fresh water bodies like rivers or aquifers due to natural processes or human activities.
  3. Indian Network for Climate Change Assessment (INCCA) was launched in 2009 by Ministry of Environment, Forests and climate change. It is a network-based scientific programme and seeks to promote domestic research on impacts of climate change.
  4. The functions of INCCA are a) assessing the drivers and implications of climate change through scientific research, b) prepare climate change assessments once every two years, c) developing decision support systems and d) building capacity towards management of climate-change related risks and opportunities.