Kochi: The sea erosion woes of Chellanam residents continues with the monsoon strengthening as the temporary protective measures announced by the state government is yet to be implemented in many parts of the coastal hamlet. Though the irrigation department has started the installation of geobags along the coast, the residents alleged that they were installed unscientifically and most of the worst-affected places are yet to receive the bags.
Many places have started witnessing slight sea erosion already and it is expected to be worse by August first week.
Residents said that the works, which were supposed to be concluded before the monsoon began, are lagging due to the inefficiency of authorities.
Earlier in May, the state government had announced Rs 2 crore as an emergency fund to ensure temporary measures like the installation of geobags and cleaning of numerous canals there.
The authorities started filling the bags with sand but they failed to tie it properly and stack it to form a temporary barrier along the coast. As a result, many of the bags are getting damaged with the sand being washed away by the seawater when the waves hit them.
“The Tauktae cyclone has led to the complete destruction of the seawall and now the remaining rocks cannot even obstruct small waves. The geobags will act as a temporary seawall if properly installed but most of the filled bags are being destroyed due to unscientific installation. Moreover, bags are not installed in many of the places,” said Jinson Veluthamannungal, coordinator of Care Chellanam. Meanwhile, irrigation department officials said that the works were progressing in many places and would be completed within a week.
“Frequent rains have affected the works at some places but we are ensuring its speedy completion,” said an official.
Meanwhile, residents of Chellanam staged a sit-in protest on Monday demanding lasting solution to the issue.
