Satabhaya erosion leaves displaced families struggling for livelihoods years after relocation in Odisha

Coastal erosion triggered by changing climatic conditions has erased Satabhaya, a cluster of seven villages in Odisha’s Kendrapara district, forcing hundreds of families to relocate while leaving their long-term livelihood concerns largely unaddressed.

Located under the Rajnagar block, Satabhaya once comprised the villages of Mahanipur, Gobindapur, Sadanandapur, Benupur, Kanupur, Magarakanda and Satabhaya. Following the 1971 super cyclone, the sea began advancing steadily towards the mainland. Over the decades, village after village was swallowed by the sea, submerging thousands of hectares of agricultural land under saline water. What was once a thriving coastal settlement, with houses, temples, tube wells and coconut groves, now exists only in memory.

In 2018, the remaining residents were relocated to Bagapatia as erosion intensified.

Rehabilitation and Gaps

According to official records, 819 families were allotted 10-decimal plots of land along with financial assistance to construct pucca houses. However, families who were primarily dependent on agriculture say the rehabilitation addressed housing needs but failed to secure sustainable livelihoods.

“We came here in 2018. We were allotted 10 decimal land and money for a pucca house. Apart from that, we were not given any other assistance. After relocation, our source of income and livelihood was left behind,” a displaced resident said.

Rajnagar MLA Dhruba Sahoo said, “After the 1971 cyclone, five villages of Satabhaya were swallowed by the sea. A total of 271 families from two of those villages were relocated to Bagapatia.”

Migration and Demands

With no farmland available at the relocation site, many residents have migrated to other states in search of work, mostly as labourers. Locals are now demanding that each family be provided two acres of agricultural land and that garment units and dry fish processing units be set up locally to curb migration.

Infrastructure Concerns

Residents have also raised concerns over infrastructure at Bagapatia Colony, where even light rainfall leads to knee-deep waterlogging on roads, affecting daily life.

Kendrapara Collector Raghuram R. Iyer said, “A detailed review was held with the Rural Development department. Work will begin in areas where tenders have already been issued, and a proposal will be sent to heighten roads that are prone to waterlogging.”