Berhampur: The Ganjam administration has asked Gopalpur Port authorities to start stone packing along the coast from Sana Aryapalli to K Aryapalli to curb rapid shoreline erosion. The direction was issued after a high-level meeting with govt and port officials and villagers affected by sea erosion on Monday evening.Earlier in the day, residents of Bada Aryapalli, Sana Aryapalli, K Aryapalli and Katuru, all predominantly fishing villages, staged a dharna in front of the main port gate, demanding immediate steps to arrest erosion along with other civic demands. The agitators later postponed their protest following the administration’s intervention.“We have asked port authorities to take up stone packing on the beach immediately to prevent further erosion,” collector (Ganjam) Keerthi Vasan V said on Tuesday. He said a detailed project report (DPR) of Rs 332 crore, prepared by engineers of the water resources department, has been submitted to the state govt for a permanent solution.A 10-member committee headed by the Chhatrapur sub-collector has been constituted to inspect the stone-packing work and monitor progress. The panel will submit a monthly report to the collector, said Chhatrapur sub-collector Sibasish Baral.Baral said the administration has also taken note of other demands, including a permanent anti-erosion plan, construction of a fishing jetty, and repair and lighting of roads.Villagers alleged that erosion has accelerated and that the port authorities had failed to take adequate preventive steps. Former Aryapalli panchayat sarpanch K Alleya claimed that in 2006 the port had assured construction of at least 11 groynes, but only three were built.He said Katuru and Sana Aryapalli, which were over 1km from the coast a few years ago, are now much closer due to erosion. “Villagers are in fear as the sea has inched towards the villages,” he said.Superintending engineer, water resources department, Berhampur, Niranjan Sahu said the Rs 332-crore DPR was prepared in consultation with the National Institute of Ocean Technology, Chennai. The proposal includes construction of 11 groynes along a 3.8km shoreline stretch from Sana Aryapalli and has been sent to the govt for approval.