Chellanam coastal erosion: Kerala HC seeks report on temporary measures taken
Kochi: High court has sought instructions from the state govt and Chellanam panchayat regarding temporary measures to protect residents of the Chellanam coastal area from sea erosion during this monsoon.
The bench of Chief Justice Nitin Jamdar and Justice Basant Balaji also directed the authorities to report on the feasibility of placing Geo bags/tubes to prevent sea inundation. The court then adjourned the PIL filed by T A Dalfine and two other local residents to Tuesday. In compliance with an earlier HC directive, officials from the district administration and the irrigation department appeared in court, and the deputy collector's report was produced.
After reviewing the report, the bench remarked that emergency shelters are not a lasting solution. When HC asked about installing Geo bags/tubes, the state submitted that completion would take two months, to which the court responded that the monsoon would be over by then. The petitioners added that although installation of Geo tubes had begun after local protests, the work was later abandoned; so far, Geo bags have been laid along 7.35km of shoreline.
The court adjourned the matter to Tuesday, directing all stakeholders, including the state, to propose short-term measures to curb sea erosion at Chellanam.
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