Around 200 homes in places such as Kannamaly, Cheriakadavu and Puthenthode are already facing the threat of sea erosion in Chellanam.
| Photo Credit: The Hindu

Hundreds of residents in coastal Chellanam are a worried lot as the State received the first spell of rain this season, which has already threatened to inundate shores and residential areas and possibly flood homes.

Around 200 homes faced immediate danger in places like Kannamaly, Cheriakadavu and Puthenthode within the past two days, claimed V.T. Sebastian, a resident of Chellanam and convener of a people’s group demanding comprehensive measures to protect the coast between Chellanam and Fort Kochi.

“Several homes have sustained minor damage and many more face immediate threat,” said Mr. Sebastian on Wednesday after visiting the affected areas, where, according to him, people were mentally prepared for the worst scenario. Some videos from the region showed high waves hitting the roofs of houses close to the shore.

Some of the house owners have erected sand-filled sack walls as a temporary measure to prevent water invading their homes.

Meanwhile, the Chellanam-Kochi Jankiya Vedi, a forum of people for the protection of the coast, is preparing to stage a mass protest on May 24 demanding the fulfilment of a promise to build tetrapod wall along the 10-km segment between Chellanam Fishing Harbour in the south and the border of the Corporation of Kochi near Fort Kochi in the north.

People will walk into the sea and stand in the waters as a mark of protest on Saturday. They are demanding that breakwaters be built using offshore, submerged geotube bags to weaken the waves now hitting the shores. They also want material dredged from the shipping channel near Chellanam, operated by Kochi Port Authority, to be dumped close to the Chellanam shores to help sea accretion and beach building.