KOCHI: Even though the government has announced that the tendering of the construction of tetrapod seawall and groynes at Chellanam would begin by mid-September, nothing has happened so far. The delay in the project, which is the only hope of the residents, makes the coast more vulnerable to erosion as the seawall has been completely destroyed in many places exposing the houses to the sea.
Over the past two days, due to the heavy rains caused by Gulab cyclone, there was mild sea erosion reported along the coast with seawater seeping over the ruins of seawall.
The residents said projects continue to remain on paper as always and not even the emergency measures were implemented in those places, which are the most affected by the sea erosion.
They said that the probability of sea erosion is higher than ever as the frequency of sea getting rough due to low pressures or cyclones has increased over the past few years. The delay in tendering the projects worth around Rs 345 crore will further delay the construction work.
“Irrigation minister Roshy Augustine and industries minister P Rajeeve had on August 30 announced the projects worth Rs 344.2 crore. Augustine said that the residents will not have to move to relief camps during next monsoon as the proposed project to construct tetrapod seawall and groynes aims to resolve the issues of coastal protection.
He said that the tendering of the project will begin by September 15 and all the procedures to receive central government funding would be completed by November. But the project seems to be in limbo and tendering is yet to begin,” said Jinson Veluthamannungal, a resident and coordinator of Care Chellanam.
The government has said that the project will be implemented under the government’s 100-day projects and Chellanam will also be developed as a tourism centre with the help of the tourism department. But unless and until the sea erosion issue is resolved, no plans to bring development in the coastal hamlet, considered the most affected by sea erosion in Kerala, will be materialized.
“Not even geobags are installed as temporary measure though Rs 2 crore was allotted as emergency fund. The contractors place the bags here and there and collect the money. The irrigation department is not even checking whether those bags would benefit anyone,” Jinson said.
