The Hindu : Kerala / Kochi News : Sea erosion: heavy losses in district

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Jun 17, 2004

Kerala

Kerala - Kochi

Sea erosion: heavy losses in district

By Our Staff Reporter

KOCHI, JUNE 16. The Ernakulam district has suffered a loss of Rs. 81.30 lakhs in the monsoon-related disasters during the last one month.

According to official accounts, four persons had died in monsoon-related accidents. Over 180 houses had been completely destroyed in sea erosion and flooding. Around 4,800 houses had been damaged.

The district administration urged the Government to allocate Rs. 80 lakhs for initiating relief measures in the district. The district administration had been informing the Government about the losses suffered in various panchayats on a daily basis. Even though the coastal regions of the city, like Chellanam and Kannamali started experiencing sea erosion as the monsoon advanced, it had not reached a situation where the families had to be moved to relief camps, the district administration officials said.

So far, the district administration had distributed 1.70 lakhs of sand bags to places like Chellanam, Kannamali and Kumbalangi, the Fort Kochi RDO, Mini Antony, said. None of the panchayat presidents or village officers had reported any instance of houses being flooded enough to be rehabilitated, Ms. Antony said.

However, local panchayat representatives complained about the district administration not providing enough back up for the relief operations. The entire coastal road had been flooded and about 28 families at Kandekadu at Chellanam were stranded, the Chellanam panchayat president, Kusumam John, said. The sand bags provided by the district administration were not enough to stop the sea from entering to habitation and many gaps remained open. Chalakadavu, Companypadi and Cheriyakadavu were flooded, she said.

More than 30 houses had been flooded at Nayarambalam, Njarakkal and Edavanakadu, the Vypeen panchayat president, C.M. Devassy, said. Traffic along the coastal road had been obstructed at Edavanakadu and Nayarambalam, he said.

The coastal areas of Ernakulam district were the worst-affected during severe sea erosion. About 2,000 houses were flooded in the coastal stretch between Chellanam and Munambam during the first two weeks of May. More than 50 houses were completely damaged in Chellanam panchayat in the rain in the first phase of monsoon. Residents in the coastal areas had urged the authorities concerned to take steps for constructing sea walls to check erosion.

Houses damaged

The heavy wind that swept across the Pookattupady Palenchery area early this morning caused large-scale destruction to crops and damaged a few houses. At least five houses were completely damaged and 10 others partly damaged in the wind.

A few persons also suffered minor injuries. The Revenue officials, who reached the spot, disbursed aid to the affected persons.

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