Veli breakwater: District administration seeks more time to study objections

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The district administration has sought more time to study the objections raised against the proposed breakwater at Veli. District Collector K Vasuki has reportedly told Veli residents who met her on Tuesday that she needed more time to study the issue.

The objections they have raised would also be brought to the notice of the state government, the Collector informed them. The district administration had scheduled a meeting on Tuesday with the local residents who have been clamouring for the cancellation of the breakwater project, claiming it would result in drastic erosion of the Veli coast.

They said the main intention of the project is to dump city waste into the sea. Veli residents have objected to the project ever since the Harbour Engineering Department (HED) first proposed it in 2012. The agitation gained fresh impetus after it was recently revived by the HED.

‘’The Collector told us that it was the first time that objection to the project had come before her and she needed more time to study the issue. We were told that another meeting would be called soon,’’ said Antony Pathrose, secretary of the Parish committee that is leading the protests. The local residents also said the project is part of a clandestine move to dump waste from the city into the sea as part of Operation Anantha.