Coastal erosion-hit Valiathura witnessed tension on Thursday after residents waylaid Water Resources Minister K. Krishnankutty who was on a visit to the affected areas.
Mr. Krishnankutty, who was accompanied by V.S. Sivakumar, MLA, was immediately surrounded by the residents when he arrived in the area by 12 noon. Shouting and jostling, they blamed the Irrigation Department for doing little to protect the houses along the coast during the past two years.
The police had a tough time controlling the mob that demanded a lasting solution to the problem. According to them, the Irrigation Department, in response to their pleas, had promised measures to protect the coast two years ago. But nothing was done, they alleged.
The tension eased only after Mr. Krishnankutty promised action on a war-footing to supply granite for constructing sea walls.
Outlining the decisions taken at Wednesday’s Cabinet meeting, he said ₹3 crore had been sanctioned for Thiruvananthapuram district to tackle coastal erosion.
Mr. Sivakumar said the first consignment of granite, arranged by the Ports Department, would be arriving on Thursday itself.
Relief camps
Furious waves have already destroyed houses along this stretch of the coast during the current monsoon season. Scores of others are in danger with high waves continuing to lash the coast. By Wednesday, the district administration had shifted over 90 families to four relief camps opened in nearby schools.
The National Fishworkers’ Forum (NFF) and the Kerala Swatantra Matsya Thozhilali Federation have demanded urgent measures to resettle all fishermen families who have lost their homes to the sea.
They also urged the government to give shape to region-specific rehabilitation schemes.