Kerala: Flood-hit residents seek tetrapod seawall shield

KOCHI: As protest is brewing among people of flood-ravaged coastal areas of the district, a team led by district collector and people’s representatives visited Kannamaly, Edavanakkad and Nayarambalam on Saturday.
The residents, including women and children, who explained the situation in the region before collector NSK Umesh, Hibi Eden, MP, and K N Unnikrishnan, MLA, mainly demanded to implement Chellanam model tetrapod seawall project along the entire coastal region.
Umesh said geobags would be deployed in the area before ‘Karkkidakavavu’ as a temporary solution and the work would begin soon. “The irrigation authorities have been directed to start the works to strengthen the damaged seawalls in the area,” he said.
Unnikrishnan said the government has sanctioned Rs 30 lakh for deploying geobags in the affected areas of Nayarambalam. The collector said a detailed project report would be submitted to the government for the implementation of tetrapod seawall project in the area.
The MLA said that he has already apprised the state government and disaster management authorities of the emergency situation in the area. “We are trying to coordinate all relief activities with the support of the district administration. People also should unitedly support the efforts,” he said.
He urged the people living in affected areas to move to relief camps as soon as possible. “Now we are giving top priority for relief activities. If it is difficult for any family to stay in the camp, we will arrange rental accommodation for them,” said Unnikrishnan.
Meanwhile, the leaders of Kerala Latin Catholic Association visited the coastal areas of Kannamaly on Saturday. KCBC secretary General Bishop Alex Vadakkumthala inaugurated a protest meet held at the flood-affected area.
A statement of the association has demanded the government to take steps to construct seawall in remaining areas of the coastal region. “Many coastal areas are still under the threat of sea erosion. Of the 17km Chellanam-Kochi coast, only 7km area is under the protection of seawall. The 10km stretch from Kannamaly to Puthanthode is experiencing strong attack by sea waves. Authorities should take immediate steps to ensure the safety of people residing in the area,” it says. The team visited houses damaged by sea erosion.