Projects worth Rs. 242 crore will be implemented by the Irrigation Department to alleviate problems related to sea erosion in the coastal villages as well as construction of sea walls, river protection activities, expansion of water transportation facilities, construction of check-dams and renovation and protection of temple ponds in the district.
Of this, Rs. 188 crore will be exclusively spent on projects to ensure protection from sea erosion. A sum of Rs. 1.36 crore will be for the protection of rivers including shoring up of their banks in necessary places. While Rs. 49 crore will be used for expansion of water transportation schemes, a sum of Rs. 3 crore will be used for erecting check dams at different places. Renovation and protection of temple ponds will be another priority area for which Rs. 34 lakh will be used.
Sea walls in the coastal belts including Payyoli beach, Thikkodi beach, different beaches at Onchiyam and Azhiyur panchayats in the district among other areas will be strengthened using the fund, said the release.
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This will also include as many as 25 small projects including the inland waterway expansion scheme from Eranhikkal to Korappuzha to improve the waterways in the district. The irrigation department in the last four years had spent Rs. 65 crore in different projects in the district. The new allocation will be part of the efforts to continue with the ongoing development works and start new projects in the priority areas in the district, said the release.