The people of coastal Chellanam will swim into the sea on Saturday to register their demand for a comprehensive package for coastal protection in the midst of rising sea level and threat of flooding of the coast in the upcoming rainy season.
Chellanam-Kochi Jankeeya Vedi, which is organising the protest throughout the coast of Chellanam, is determined to see that there is mass participation in the protest to ensure that the authorities pay attention to their demand, said convenor of the people’s forum V.T. Sebastian.
He added that the residents were keeping their fingers crossed with the first bout of rains this monsoon threatening to unleash high waves that could flood the coast and residential areas in Chellanam.
He said the residents would swim into the sea to register their anxiety and to ask the authorities to take action before the rainy season. The protest will be inaugurated on Saturday by Father Antony Paul at the Puthenthode beach in Chellanam.
Residents of Chellanam have been encouraged by an announcement last week that a portion of the money allocated in the 2024-25 Budget would be utilised to build underwater geotube breakwaters in the Vypeen area. The residents have demanded similar measures on the coast, which, the Vedi leaders claimed, was a cheaper alternative to building breakwaters of concrete or stone.
Mr. Sebastian said that around 200 homes faced danger in places like Kannamaly, Cheriakadavu, and Puthenthode with the first spell of rains.
Chellanam has 7.3-km segment between the Chellanam fishing harbour and Puthenthode protected by tetrapod sea wall. The Vedi has demanded that the rest of the 10-km coast be given a similar treatment.
Published – May 23, 2025 12:03 am IST
