Hundreds of people joined a protest at Chellanam on Monday against what they described as the failure of the authorities to take adequate measures to protect them against sea erosion and flooding of homes in the panchayat. The protest was organised under the aegis of the Paschima Kochi Theera Samrakshana Samiti. Members of the Samiti blocked the road and picketed the panchayat office. The protest action was called off after 12.30 p.m.
The Samiti members and other residents have been raising their voice against the failure of the authorities to initiate steps to prevent sea erosion ahead of the monsoon season. A project to erect geotextile tubes against the rough sea and high waves had been called off and sand bags are now being filled and stacked along the coast in the worst-affected areas in the panchayat.
