The district administration will create a special package for the fortification of sea walls in vulnerable areas along the Kozhikode coastline to protect houses during sea erosion and tidal turbulence. A decision in this regard was taken at a meeting convened by District Collector U.V. Jose here on Monday.
The Harbour Engineering and Irrigation departments will review all the existing sea wall fortification projects ahead of the execution of the new project. Along with the fortification work, mangroves will be planted to prevent sea erosion.
Addressing a meeting of people’s representatives and senior officials, Mr. Jose said the possibility of rehabilitating all families living within metres of the coastline would be examined. A special rehabilitation package will be introduced for the purpose, he added.
Mr. Jose also directed officials of the Revenue and Fisheries departments to prepare a list of families hit by Cyclone Ockhi on the coastlines of Kozhikode and grant them free ration. Potable water distribution will be streamlined in all areas where saline water intrusion into drinking water sources was confirmed, he said.
Boats return
Meanwhile, Revenue Department officials said most of those who had been relocated to rehabilitation camps following a sea erosion threat had returned home on Monday. As many as 160 persons, at present staying in three different camps at Kadalundi, will be able to return home on Wednesday, they added.
According to the Fisheries Department, 25 out of the 61 boats that had gone for fishing returned to the district without any damage. The other boats could safely anchor at various ports in Karnataka and Maharashtra, they confirmed.
The officials added that restrictions on fishing would continue for two more days on the basis of the latest weather forecasting that signalled chances of a strong wind. The special control room with the helpline 04952-414074 will be functional round-the-clock to support fishers in emergency situations, they said.
