Rural Settlements in the Coastal Plains
India’s long coastline, stretching across both eastern and western coasts, exhibits great diversity in rural settlement patterns due to varying relief, hydrology, economic activities (like fishing and plantation), and deltaic morphology.
📌 Eastern Coastal Plains
These are broader, fertile, and delta-dominated—shaped significantly by river systems like Mahanadi, Godavari, Krishna, and Kaveri.
| Region | Settlement Features |
|---|---|
| Mahanadi Delta (Odisha) | Settlements on high escarpments to avoid floods. |
| Godavari, Krishna, Kaveri Deltas | Nucleated villages due to organised canal irrigation and levee-based agriculture. |
| Fishing villages | Common along the coast; vary in shape and size. Typically, linear near shoreline or clustered inland. |
🧠 Agriculture and flood protection are primary influences. Levee settlements resemble ‘flood-free islands’ amid fertile but risky terrain.
🏖️ Western Coastal Plains
These are narrower, with steep slopes, backwaters, and plantation-based rural economy, especially in Kerala and Konkan.
| Region | Features |
|---|---|
| Malabar Coast (Kerala) | Large compact villages dominate, but coconut & cashew plantations lead to isolated dwellings scattered across fields. |
| Konkan Coast (Maharashtra-Goa) | Small linear settlements hugging hill slopes or backwaters. |
| Gujarat Coastal Plain | Nucleated villages of medium to large size; influenced by both agriculture and salt production. |
| Saurashtra Coast | Small villages with wide inter-village spacing due to dry conditions. Isolated farmsteads in banana & coconut plantations add aesthetic value. |
| Kachchh & Rann region | Sparse hamlets with 1–2 rooms; settlements occur at long intervals in semi-arid, saline environments. |
🧠 In Kerala and Goa, plantation economy and backwaters lead to mixed settlement forms—from compact clusters to scattered homesteads.
🔍 Key Influencing Factors in Coastal Settlements
| Factor | Impact |
|---|---|
| Flood-prone deltas | Encourage settlement on levees/high ground (e.g., Mahanadi, Krishna) |
| Irrigation infrastructure (canals) | Leads to nucleated, permanent villages |
| Fishing economy | Shapes coastal clusters, often linear along the shore |
| Plantation agriculture (coconut, cashew, banana) | Encourages isolated dwellings/farmsteads |
| Salt-affected & arid zones (Kachchh) | Only sparse hamlets, due to uninhabitable terrain |
🧠 Summary Table: Coastal Rural Settlement Patterns
| Coast | Type | Dominant Pattern | Key Regions |
|---|---|---|---|
| East | Deltaic, fertile | Nucleated & flood-protected | Mahanadi, Godavari, Krishna, Kaveri deltas |
| West | Narrow, plantation & fishing-based | Mixed: compact + scattered farmsteads | Kerala, Konkan, Gujarat, Kachchh |