NGO Coastal Watch calls for urgent and sustainable measures for coastal conservation in Kerala’s capital district

Coastal Watch, Thiruvananthapuram, has urged the Kerala government to abandon the Vizhinjam international seaport project as well as the move to construct more harbours and 'hard structures' such as seawalls and groynes

Blaming unscientific coastal structures for the worsening coastal erosion in Thiruvananthapuram district of Kerala, the NGO Coastal Watch, Thiruvananthapuram, has urged the State government to abandon the Vizhinjam international seaport project as well as the move to construct more harbours and 'hard structures' such as seawalls and groynes. A Coastal Watch report, 'Evicted coastal communities: Problems and solutions', has blamed the breakwater being constructed for the Vizhinjam port for the severe erosion in the coastal villages north of it. Only a small portion of the breakwater has been completed, but even this has triggered unprecedented wave action in the adjacent fisheries harbour and the formation of a sandbar at its mouth, imperilling the lives of fishermen, notes the study. It also seeks a constructive review of the ₹5,300 crore package announced in the State Budget for coastal conservation.