Tetrapod seawall brings relief to Chellanam residents

The aim is to complete the construction of 7.32-km-long seawall before April 2023

The newly installed tetrapod-based seawall seem to have brought much needed relief to the residents of sea erosion-prone Chellanam in Ernakulam district during the latest episode of rain fury.

Areas, which used to get flooded by the marauding waves over the last many years, remain more or less protected since the monsoon intensified.

Buoyed by the success, the State government is planning to expand the project across similarly threatened coastal areas across the State. Coastal conservation works worth Rs. 344 crore are now underway in Chellanam.

Also read: Chellanam model fishing village to be developed at a cost of ₹750 crore

The construction of seawall using tetrapod seemed to have helped to secure the stretch between Chellanam harbour and Puthanthodu from the threat of sea erosion. Tetrapod are being laid on a 2.50 meter foundation of granites and at a height of 6.10 metre from the sea level.

Uralungal Labour Contract Co-operative Society is engaged in the production of tetrapod based on the study conducted by the Chennai-based National Centre for Coastal Research. Tetrapod weighing two tonnes and five tonnes are being made. So far, 20, 235 tetrapod have already been produced using 3.50 lakh metric tonne boulders.