Kerala - Thiruvananthapuram   

Minister visits Valiathura, Veli

Special Correspondent

Strong tidal action continues to wreak havoc

Thiruvananthapuram: Residents in the coastal areas of the city went through another anxious day as strong tidal action continued to wreak havoc along the shoreline. Several houses were damaged by waves.

Water Resources Minister N.K. Premachandran visited the affected areas in the city to assess the extent of the damage caused by the onslaught of the sea. The Minister went round the beaches from Valiathura, Sanghumukham and Veli. He also visited the displaced families relocated to relief camps.

The inmates of the relief camps poured out a litany of woes before the Minister who lent them a patient ear. They complained about the poor quality of the free ration rice supplied to them. The women wanted an assurance from Mr. Premachandran on the quality of rice.

They also sought the Government's commitment to provide permanent relocation of the houses on the beach.

"Every year, during the monsoon, we are forced to relocate to relief camps. The Government has to provide permanent housing in a safer location", they said. Mr. Premachandran promised to look into their grievances.

The Minister was accompanied by the Revenue officials and the Thiruvananthapuram West MLA V. Surendran Pillai.

Meanwhile, three persons who were injured while stacking sandbags along the coast at Veli on Sunday, have been admitted to the Medical College Hospital for treatment. Revenue officials said the three were caught under the wall of a house that collapsed on to them.

Fishermen colonies along the coast at Anchuthengu in the Chirayinkeezh taluk were also threatened by heavy erosion as the sea surged inland on Sunday. As many as 27 houses were damaged by the tidal action. Residents in the coastal areas were preparing to escape to safer places. The Taluk office said there was no displacement. The district administration is monitoring the situation.

Plea to Chief Minister

The Valiaveli Kadalakramana Punaradhivasa Samithi, an action council comprising elected representatives, political leaders, voluntary workers and the local parish, appealed to Chief Minister V.S.Achuthanandan to rehabilitate the stricken families and sanction compensation for the injured persons and the dispossessed.

In a memorandum submitted to the Government, the Samithi leaders M.A.Vahid, MLA; Deputy Mayor V.Jayaprakash and ward councillor Veli Varghese said 35 houses were destroyed and 60 damaged by the tidal action. About 60 houses are also threatened by the rising water. The memorandum pointed out that fishing equipment worth lakhs of rupees were lost to the sea.

The Samithi wanted the Government to procure land from private parties and use it to rehabilitate the displaced families. It proposed a housing scheme involving government agencies, the City Corporation and voluntary bodies like the Thiruvananthapuram Social Service Society (TSSS).

The leaders also urged the Government for urgent steps to protect the coastal area from Veli Pozhikara to ISRO from encroachments and construct a road along the stretch. They called on the Government to make ensure that classes are not disturbed in the schools converted into relief camps. They proposed the construction of temporary sheds within the school premises to accommodate the displaced families.

He also visits the displaced families relocated to relief camps

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