The regional government of Kerala is testing an innovative underwater system to reduce wave energy and prevent its beaches from disappearing during storms.
The reason why India is burying giant tubes full of sand 20 feet below ground
Along the coast of Poonthura in the Indian state of Kerala, local authorities have launched an eye-catching project to protect the shoreline. A series of enormous sand-filled tubes has been installed on the seafloor to reduce the force of incoming waves before they reach the beach.
Known as geotubes, these structures have been placed about 20 feet below the surface and 260 to 390 feet offshore. One of the system’s biggest advantages is that it remains completely submerged, preserving the area’s natural coastal views. By weakening incoming waves, the underwater barrier allows sand to gradually accumulate along the shoreline instead of being swept away by strong currents.
An eco-friendly alternative
Until now, the most common way to protect coastlines from powerful storms has been to build large rock breakwaters. Kerala’s regional government, however, chose this newer technology because it is considered far less disruptive to the fragile marine ecosystem.
Traditional rock barriers come with several significant drawbacks. Environmentally, they can alter natural ocean currents and damage habitats for marine life living on the seafloor. They are also expensive and difficult to install, requiring heavy equipment to transport and position massive amounts of rock underwater.
Unexpected challenges
The project has faced numerous obstacles since construction began in 2022. Installation was delayed by India’s trade regulations, which give preference to domestically manufactured products. As a result, customs officials blocked shipments from the Chinese company that had originally designed the custom geotubes.
Engineers were forced to quickly find manufacturers within India capable of producing components that met the project’s demanding technical specifications. Supply chain issues were compounded by harsh weather conditions. Rough seas and heavy monsoon rains limited divers to just a few hours of work each morning, slowing construction even further.
Concerns from the fishing community
The project’s success carries significant social importance for Poonthura, where nearly the entire population depends on fishing for its livelihood. Residents have long warned that powerful storm surges are gradually destroying their homes and damaging the boats they rely on every day.
After overcoming months of logistical challenges, the underwater barrier was declared fully operational in April 2026. Specialists from India’s National Institute of Ocean Technology plan to conduct a series of inspection dives throughout the region’s stormiest months to monitor the structure’s performance.
The data collected during this testing period will determine the project’s future. If the results show that the barrier reduces wave energy and allows the beach to naturally rebuild its sand over time, Kerala’s regional government plans to deploy the same environmentally friendly system to protect other vulnerable stretches of coastline that are also at risk of disappearing.
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