The Chellanam panchayat authority will strengthen the granite barriers, especially in South Chellanam, to prevent intrusion of seawater in the wake of the monsoon.
Panchayat president K.P. Thankachan said work would begin on Monday in view of the inundation of nearly 50 houses in pre-monsoon showers on Friday and Saturday.
He said besides granite walls, the panchayat would also build sandbag barriers to ensure houses were not flooded because of intrusion of seawater. He said there were gaps in some sections of the granite wall near Vattakkal, the fishing harbour and near St. Mary’s High School. These would be rectified and sandbag barriers erected.
The panchayat president said despite the presence of sea walls, seawater intrusion was a usual experience during the monsoon. On Friday and Saturday the sea was extremely rough, bellowing out huge waves that ate into the land area regularly during the day.