Irked Chellanam residents boycott flood relief camp

KOCHI: With the authorities failing to ensure flood-protection measures at Chellanam, leaving the coastal hamlet to bear the brunt of sea erosion, residents boycott the relief camp opened in the area this monsoon. They said that opening a relief camp that lacks even the basic amenities during every monsoon has become an easy job for the government who stay blind to their calls for a permanent solution to the sea erosion issue at Chellanam.
Even though the revenue department opened an emergency relief camp at Chellanam St Mary’s High School, not even a single resident was ready to move to the camp. People said that they no more want a relief but a comprehensive solution for the misery that rains over Chellanam during monsoon.
“We are tired of blindly believing the assurances given by authorities and moving to relief camps every monsoon. Life in relief camp is even more miserable than here as there are not enough toilet facilities. More than 700 houses continue to be flooded in the area over the past one week and people cannot peacefully spend a night as the sea gets rough battering our houses. We know we are not safe here, but we are ready to face the danger. We will stay in our flooded houses. Authorities should bring a permanent solution,” said Mariyamma George, whose house is less than 100 metres from the sea.
Chellanam panchayat president Mercy Joshy said that even though the revenue officials, police and panchayat members asked the residents to move to the camp they refused. “As people were not ready to shift to the camp, revenue department temporarily shut down the camp and classes have been started,” Joshy said.
The school officials said that there are ready to stop the classes and set up a camp anytime if the authorities demand. “Our staff are residing near the school and can open the classrooms for people any time. Revenue department has installed more tube lights in the classrooms. Our kitchen has the facilities to cook food for any number of people. But toilet facilities are minimum,” said school headmistress Mini Aloysius.
Earlier on Wednesday, district collector K Muhammed Y Safirulla visited Chellanam to review the situation and also monitor the construction of geotubes, but has to return immediately following protest by the residents. “The residents tried to bring the collector’s attention to their woes but situation became tense later on. The collector could not visit flooded houses in the area as the residents expressed their anger due to the delay in implementing the geotube project. Following this the collector promised immediate actions and returned,” said vicar of Velakanni Matha Church, Chellanam, Fr John Kandathilparambu.