Kochi: In the wake of severe sea surges that have caused significant damage to homes and disrupted the lives of residents, coastal communities in Ernakulam are vehemently protesting against what they perceive as the authorities’ indifferent attitude towards their plight. Residents of Kannamaly in Chellanam and Edavanakkad panchayats initiated a protest on Friday, demanding the construction of an effective seawall to mitigate the impact of future sea surges.
Chellanam residents took to blocking State Highway 66, which connects Fort Kochi and Alappuzha, near Kannamaly police station. The blockade commenced at 6 am and continued until 2:30 pm. The protesters called off the blockade after District Collector N S K Umesh intervened and assured them that the construction of the seawall, specifically the placement of tetrapods, would resume promptly. He informed the protestors that discussions were ongoing with the central government to secure 60% of the total cost required for placing tetrapods along a 4km stretch from Puthenthode to Cheriakadavu CMS bridge. Additionally, the protestors demanded the disposal of sand dredged by the Cochin Port to maintain the depth of the shipping channel, suggesting it be deposited off the coast between Chellanam and Fort Kochi Beach Road. “We agreed to suspend the road blockade after the collector assured us of a meeting with the irrigation department, Cochin Port authorities, and Chellanam-Kochi Janakeeya Vedi members on July 9 to discuss our demand for sand disposal,” stated an official from the Vedi. The official added that if no satisfactory decision is reached during the meeting, the road blockade would resume on July 21, coinciding with the full moon day.
In Edavanakkad, residents formed a human chain spanning 2.5km from Aniyil bridge to Pallathamkulangara. Opposition leader V D Satheesan and Ernakulam MP Hibi Eden are scheduled to visit the coastal area on Saturday morning to lend their support. V K Iqbal, vice-president of the panchayat, noted that the panchayat supports the protest led by the Janakeeya Samara Samithi. “There is a plan to picket all state and central government offices within the local body limits. If local protests do not yield results, we are prepared to escalate our actions and bring the city to a standstill,” Iqbal asserted.
The protests underscore the growing frustration and urgency among coastal communities to safeguard their homes and livelihoods against the relentless threat of sea surges. The commitment from local officials to address these concerns is a crucial step towards mitigating future risks.
