The Shifting Edge

Uppada is a coastal village in Kothapalli mandal of Kakinada district, Andhra Pradesh, located along the Bay of Bengal. Its settlement pattern is closely tied to the shoreline, with fishing and small-scale handloom weaving forming the primary livelihoods. The village’s geography characterised by a narrow coastal plain, sandy soils, and an eroding shoreline has continually shaped everyday life, infrastructure, and patterns of habitation.

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This study examines Uppada to understand how a coastal settlement adapts to recurring cyclones and long-term land erosion, and how these environmental pressures influence livelihoods, socio-cultural practices, and collective life. The village comprises weaving, fishing, and farming communities, including Devang and Pattusali weavers, Vada Balija fishers, and Kapu farmers. Uppada experiences a tropical coastal climate with high humidity and seasonal monsoon rainfall, making it vulnerable to cyclonic activity. A major cyclone in 1977 caused extensive loss of life and housing, while long-term erosion has resulted in significant land loss over recent decades.

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In response to these conditions, residents have developed adaptive strategies such as incremental housing modifications, material changes for weather resistance, and relocation away from the coast through government rehabilitation schemes. However, environmental interventions like bund walls and industrial developments have altered sediment flows and coastal dynamics, disproportionately affecting fishing communities. The emergence of pharmaceutical industries and shrimp hatcheries has further reshaped the local economy, leading to ecological degradation, livelihood instability, and protest movements.

Rather than viewing Uppada solely through narratives of loss, this study focuses on everyday spatial negotiations, material practices, and collective adaptations. These practices reveal complex forms of resilience and contestation that contribute to broader discussions on urbanity at the margins.