Sea incursion in Edavanakad: residents observe hartal
People’s collective takes out protest rally, attended by more than 1,000 people, from Kuzhuppilly to Aniyal; panchayat members and protest committee leaders hold talks with District Collector
Ahartal called by a people’s collective in Edavanakad panchayat in Ernakulam on Friday against the misery spawned by heavy sea incursion was complete, with shops remaining shut, vehicles o the road, blockades on the stretch of the State Highway passing through the coastal panchayat and shing boats o the waters.
A mammoth protest rally, claimed to have been attended by more than 1,000 people, was taken out from Kuzhuppilly to Aniyal in the morning. People from all walks of life and political parties took part in the rally. Trac through the panchayat remained disrupted.
Shortly thereafter, a delegation of panchayat members led by the president and vice president
and protest committee leaders left for the district collectorate to hold discussions with the District Collector.
“Our primary demand is the erection of tetrapod seawall similar to the one in Chellanam. The traditional seawall is of little use since huge granites are said to be no longer available. As per an estimate, the
proposed tetrapod seawall would cost around ₹57 crore,” said V.K. Iqbal, vice president, Edavanakad panchayat.
Construction of drains and restoration of the 2.5km stretch of the old Coastal Highway are the other demands. “Around 1 km of the road remains submerged under sand deposit left behind by invading waves while the remaining stretch has been left unmaintained, seriously affecting the mobility of the people,” said Jithin M.D., a sherman.
He also demanded that widespread damage to livelihood such as shrimp farming caused by the invading waves be properly compensated. As many as 12 shing vessels, accounting for nearly 50 shing workers each, remained tethered to the shore on Friday in a show of solidarity with the hartal.
Meanwhile, widespread resentment is brewing in the panchayat against the perceived indierence of local MLA K.N. Unnikrishnan against the struggles of the panchayat. “Forget about visiting us, he hasn’t even bothered to enquire about our problems,” alleged Mr. Jithin. Mr. Unnikrishnan could not be reached for his response to the allegations.