The Kerala High Court has directed the irrigation department secretary to file a fresh affidavit explaining the steps and timelines for seawall construction in Njarakkal and Nayarambalam grama panchayats, where residents have sought urgent action against coastal erosion.
A bench comprising Chief Justice Soumen Sen and Justice V M Syam Kumar issued the direction after finding that an earlier affidavit did not comply with the court’s instructions. The court had specifically sought details of the proposed works, their timelines and measures to address erosion hotspots along the coastal stretch.
The case relates to a public interest litigation filed by A J Joy of Vypeen and eight other residents. The petition seeks measures to prevent coastal erosion in the two panchayats, including construction and strengthening of a seawall along the affected areas.
The court also noted that its earlier direction to explore whether the timelines for dealing with individual erosion hotspots could be shortened had not been adequately addressed. The fresh affidavit must therefore set out the steps taken by the department and provide clearer timelines for the proposed coastal protection works.
The district collector had earlier placed the concerns of local residents before the court and stated that urgent intervention was required to strengthen the seawall in Nayarambalam and Njarakkal. The submissions brought the condition of the coastal protection infrastructure and the risks faced by communities in the two panchayats into the proceedings.
The court had directed the irrigation department secretary on July 8 to examine the matter and report on the steps taken. After reviewing the affidavit filed in response, the bench found it unsatisfactory and ordered the secretary to submit a fresh document addressing the court’s specific requirements.
The fresh affidavit must also disclose the steps taken to secure financial assistance from the Asian Development Bank for the proposed works. The order places both the construction schedule and the status of potential external funding on record for the next stage of the proceedings.
The matter has been adjourned to November 4, when the court is expected to consider the fresh affidavit and the department’s response on the proposed seawall construction, timelines and ADB assistance.
