KOCHI: Giving better hopes for the residents of Chellanam, who are fed up with the frequent sea erosion, the government has finally accorded administrative sanction (AS) for the reformation of seawall using tetrapods and construction of groynes for coastal protection in the coastal panchayat.
The projects worth Rs 344.20cr will be implemented through funding from Kerala Infrastructure Investment Fund Board (KIIFB). Kerala Irrigation Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (KIIDC) will be the special purpose vehicle for implementation.
According to the order issued by the water resources department dated July 29, the AS is given for the reformation of damaged sunken seawall using tetrapods in between CP stone 976 and 1052 for 10km stretches along Chellanam coast at a cost of 2.542 crore and construction of groyne field at Bazar CP stone 997 and Kannamaly CP stone 1020 at a cost of Rs 90 lakh.
“…an amount of Rs1500 crore is earmarked in the 2021-22 budget for coastal protection in vulnerable reaches and subsequently 10 hotspots were identified for immediate protection...,” the order said.
