An allocation of Rs.12.60 crore for the Eravipuram coast in Kollam city has been made at the intervention of Chief Minister Oommen Chandy.
The allocation was made on Friday to protect the thickly populated Eravipuram coast that has become highly vulnerable to sea erosion.
The decision came after a delegation headed by P.K. Gurudasan, MLA, met the Chief Minister in Thiruvananthapuram on Thursday.
During the meeting, Mr. Chandy directed Principal Secretary (Irrigation) V.J. Kurien and Principal Secretary (Finance) V.P. Joy to meet the delegation on Friday and treat their request on a priority basis.
On June 14, administrative sanction of Rs.3.30 crore was given for the construction of four groynes on the Kakkathoppe coast at Eravipuram.
However, the delegation told the Chief Minister that two other areas were also vulnerable to the sea and needed urgent protection. Mr. Chandy then directed top officials of the Irrigation Department to inspect the areas on Friday and submit a report to the Principal Secretary.
Based on the report, administrative sanction for Rs.6.15 crore to construct eight groynes on the Thanni coast was given and a provision of Rs.3.15 crore to construct four groynes on the Garfill Nagar coast at Eravipuram made.
Delegation
The delegation comprised Quilon Social Service Director Fr. Pius Maliath, Thanni vicar Fr. Nitesh Gomes, Eravipuram vicar Fr. Joshi, and CITU-affiliated Matysa Thozhilali Union district unit president Basil Lal.
The groynes will be constructed after technical consultation with the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Madras.
The IIT will decide the type of groynes for the area depending on the currents there.
