Coastal erosion: Kerala HC seeks report on seawall construction at Njarakkal & Nayarambalam
Kochi: The high court has directed the irrigation department secretary to file an affidavit detailing the steps taken to construct seawalls to prevent coastal erosion in Njarakkal and Nayarambalam grama panchayats, along with timelines for the proposed works.
A bench of Chief Justice Soumen Sen and Justice V M Syam Kumar issued the directive after noting that the affidavit filed by the secretary did not comply with its earlier directions, which specifically required details of the proposed works and timelines for the panchayats. The court was considering a PIL filed by A J Joy of Vypeen and eight other residents seeking measures to prevent coastal erosion along the Nayarambalam and Njarakkal coastal stretch, including the construction of a seawall.
The bench further noted that its specific direction to explore the possibility of shortening the timelines for addressing each of the erosion hotspots had not been adequately addressed. Earlier, the district collector had placed on record the concerns of local residents and stated that urgent intervention was needed to strengthen the seawall in Nayarambalam and Njarakkal grama panchayats. On July 8, the bench had directed the secretary to examine the matter and report the steps taken. However, finding the affidavit filed by the secretary unsatisfactory, the court directed him to file a fresh affidavit. The court also directed that the fresh affidavit disclose the steps taken to secure financial assistance from the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and adjourned the matter to Nov 4.
A bench of Chief Justice Soumen Sen and Justice V M Syam Kumar issued the directive after noting that the affidavit filed by the secretary did not comply with its earlier directions, which specifically required details of the proposed works and timelines for the panchayats. The court was considering a PIL filed by A J Joy of Vypeen and eight other residents seeking measures to prevent coastal erosion along the Nayarambalam and Njarakkal coastal stretch, including the construction of a seawall.
The bench further noted that its specific direction to explore the possibility of shortening the timelines for addressing each of the erosion hotspots had not been adequately addressed. Earlier, the district collector had placed on record the concerns of local residents and stated that urgent intervention was needed to strengthen the seawall in Nayarambalam and Njarakkal grama panchayats. On July 8, the bench had directed the secretary to examine the matter and report the steps taken. However, finding the affidavit filed by the secretary unsatisfactory, the court directed him to file a fresh affidavit. The court also directed that the fresh affidavit disclose the steps taken to secure financial assistance from the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and adjourned the matter to Nov 4.
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