Fishers’ union to seek Centre’s help for Chellanam beach nourishment

More than a kilometre of beach recently lost in Chellanam, finds Cadal study

Swathanthra Matsya Thozhilali Federation, an independent fishers’ union, has said it will approach the Union government for support for taking up beach nourishment activities along the 17-km coastal segment between Chellanam and Fort Kochi. The Federation said the Centre’s support would be needed for the purpose as material dredged from the shipping channel in Kochi could be utilised for recreating the beach close to Chellanam. The Federation plans to submit a memorandum to the Union government, highlighting serious sea erosion in the segment. The Federation’s State president Jackson Pollayil said each of the coastal districts in Kerala had its own peculiar problem related to coastal erosion. In Kochi, the port-related dredging activity is directly controlled by the Union government and a decision by the Centre would be required, he added.