THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Residents of Chellanam village in Ernakulam district launched a relay hunger strike today on the occasion of Gandhi Jayanthi as a Gandhian form of protest against the Kerala state government.
The hunger strike has been organised in protest of the Kerala state government’s failure to find a permanent solution to sea incursions in the Chellanam area. The protestors are demanding the construction of a tetrapod seawall, spanning from Kannamali to Fort Kochi, on an urgent basis, as well as the coastal reconstruction using soil collected from Cochin Port.
The protest is being organised by Janakeeya Vedi, demanding that residents are anxious about the impact of tidal waves on their homes, as sea incursions have been a long-standing issue.
It has been reported that the seawall currently covers only 7 kilometers, despite government promises to commence construction by November. But there has been no visible progress on this. Consequently, Chellanam residents have resolved to sustain their indefinite hunger strike until the government intervenes to address their grievances.
In July, more than 300 houses in the area suffered extensive damage due to worsening sea incursions, but no efforts were made to extend protection to the Kannamaly area. Locals have criticized the government for merely setting up relief camps without arranging any lasting solutions to the problem.
Earlier, in August 2022, the Kerala University of Fisheries and Ocean Studies (Kufos) proposed a blueprint for seawall construction in response to the region’s issues. This proposal also emphasized addressing livelihood concerns, including integrated rice and fish farming in pokkali fields.
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