Government’s coastal conservation plan brings new hope for Cheranam residents

The action taken by the state government has established underwater geographical management that reinforces offshore, with sea sand to protect the Vipijo coast, bringing new hope to the residents of the coastal Chellanam Panchayat, one of the areas in which the state has been flooded through ocean erosion and flooding.

Vipeen’s comprehensive plan was announced on Friday (May 16) after visiting MV Ramana Murthy, director of the Chennai National Coastal Research Centre. Vypeen’s coastal conservation efforts will be carried out by Kerala Coastal Development Corporation.

The news inspired the spirit of the people of Cheranham that coastal conservation efforts remain incomplete after the construction of a quadrat wall along the coast. Vypeen’s coastal conservation works may use a portion of the budget allocation of Rs 1,000 crore to be used for coastal conservation in the state, said VT Sebastian, convener of Kochi-Chellanam Janakiya Vedi. If so, he added that part of the fund could be used to similar works in Cheranham.

A 7.3 km extension between the Cheranum Fishing Port and Puthenthode has been constructed along the 7.3 km extension. Janakiya Vedi asked to complete the rest of the coastline as well. Mr Sebastian said the public protests for full coastal protection, launched in October 2019, have now exceeded 2,000 days.

Janakiya Vedi believes that flooded geographic hiding filled with sand can help weaken the power of the waves and thus reduce coastal erosion. They also suggested that if stored near the Cheranham coast, the restricted material could be diffused from the transport channels of the Kochi Port Authority, which could help the beach formation.

Residents believe that geomanaged installation will be a more cost-effective method of coastal conservation. At the same time, they urged to bring the entire coastline to Fort Kochi. They stressed that sea erosion in areas such as Saudi Arabia, operating rooms and beach roads is deteriorating and immediate action is needed to deal with the threat.