NGO Coastal Watch calls for urgent and sustainable measures for coastal conservation in Kerala’s capital district

Blaming unscientific coastal buildings for the worsening coastal erosion in Thiruvananthapuram district of Kerala, the NGO Coastal Watch, Thiruvananthapuram, has urged the State authorities to desert the Vizhinjam worldwide seaport venture in addition to the transfer to assemble extra harbours and ‘onerous buildings’ resembling seawalls and groynes.

A Coastal Watch report, ‘Evicted coastal communities: Problems and options’, has blamed the breakwater being constructed for the Vizhinjam port for the extreme erosion in the coastal villages north of it. Only a small portion of the breakwater has been accomplished, however even this has triggered unprecedented wave motion in the adjoining fisheries harbour and the formation of a sandbar at its mouth, imperilling the lives of fishermen, notes the research. It additionally seeks a constructive evaluation of the ₹5,300 crore bundle introduced in the State Budget for coastal conservation.

”The authorities ought to urgently take steps to desert the development of the Vizhinjam worldwide port, which poses a serious risk to the life and livelihood of the coastal group and to forestall additional destruction,” in accordance with the research.

‘End erosion’

‘Hard buildings’ resembling groynes and breakwaters impede pure sediment transport and have confirmed to be short-term options for coastal safety. ‘Soft buildings’ resembling geotubes must be experimented with for coastal conservation, as an alternative. Seawalls are dangerous in the sense that they’re weakened by the scouring of sand from its base. They additionally trigger ‘finish erosion’ in the coastal stretches on both aspect of it, the research famous.

Calling for sustainable coastal safety measures, Coastal Watch additionally advises towards the usage of concrete tetrapods that are actually extensively used. Further, the organisation has urged the federal government to scrap plans for new harbours, together with the one at Pozhiyoor.

Coastal Watch additionally demanded the State authorities to evaluation the ‘Punargeham’ venture, which seeks to rehabilitate households residing inside 50 metres of the tidal zone. The venture earmarks ₹6 lakh per household for buying land and ₹4 lakh for developing a home, regardless of rural and city areas. This is insufficient, the research famous.

A State-level coastal rehabilitation company to be fashioned beneath the Chief Minister for the correct resettlement of households from the fishing group. Public land, together with property held by the church, must be used for the rehabilitation, the research famous.