The Hindu : Kerala / Thiruvananthapuram News : Rehabilitation in six months: Premachandran

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Rehabilitation in six months: Premachandran

Staff Reporter

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Water Resources Minister N.K. Premachandran has assured the families, who were displaced from coastal areas of Poonthura following last year’s sea erosion, that their rehabilitation will be completed within six months.

He was speaking to presspersons after visiting the coastal areas of Poonthura, Beemappally and Sankumughom on Thursday to assess the damage caused by the latest sea erosion on families residing in the locality. The displaced families, numbering around 40, are at present settled in temporary sheds at Kunnumpuram and Cheriyamuttam, near Poonthura.

Mr. Premachandran said the government would begin the construction of a sea wall in the locality at the earliest.

Construction of groyne

However, when asked about the demand among the residents for the construction of a groyne, Mr. Premchandran said that a decision would be taken after a study conducted by the Indian Institute of Technology, Chennai. “It is expected that the proposed project would cost around Rs.30 lakh,” he said.

According to the Poonthura Vikasana Samithi, the construction of a groyne locally known as ‘Pulimuttu’ is essential to protect the costal area and its inhabitants from the damage caused by annual sea erosion during monsoon. “Over the years, we have lost nearly two kilometres of beach area to the sea. The place were I grew up has now been taken over by sea,” said J. Muthappan, convener of the samithi.

“At this rate, it is only a matter of time before we are left without any beach,” he said.

Mr. Premachandran along with V. Surendran Pillai, MLA, inspected the construction of a sea wall along the 1,050 mr Sankumughom stretch using gabion boxes made from polypropylene and ultra-violet resistant ropes.

The Minister also visited the coastal areas of Beemappally.

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