Kochi: The state government’s plan to construct a seawall using tetrapods along the sea-erosion prone areas at Chellanam is likely to be delayed as the tendering of the project that was said to be completed in June is nowhere near completion.
Earlier on May 27, fisheries minister Saji Cherian and industries minister P Rajeev, during their joint visit to Chellanam, said that the tendering of seawall construction using tetrapods would be completed by June 25. However, sources with the irrigation department said that the design and estimate of the tetrapod seawall are yet to be completed and the tendering will be initiated only after that.
Tetrapods are large concrete structures that are used around the world to break up wave action and absorb the ocean’s eroding energy.
During the last sea erosion as part of Tauktae cyclone, the seawall was completely destroyed in many places and there is no barrier between the sea and the houses. The delay in the reconstruction of the seawall makes the area more vulnerable to the sea erosion, which is expected in mid-July again.
“The construction of tetrapod seawall involves more complex design and procedures than that of the normal seawall. The effectiveness of the tetrapod interlocking decides the strength of the seawall. National Centre for Coastal Research (NCCR), Chennai, is doing the design works and it is expected to complete soon and based on that the estimate of the project will be finalized. Tendering will be initiated only after that,” said a source.
The cost involved in tetrapod construction is much higher than that of the normal seawall. So the Rs16 crore allotted by the state government appears to be not enough for constructing tetrapod seawall along the coast.
Earlier on May 27, fisheries minister Saji Cherian and industries minister P Rajeev, during their joint visit to Chellanam, said that the tendering of seawall construction using tetrapods would be completed by June 25. However, sources with the irrigation department said that the design and estimate of the tetrapod seawall are yet to be completed and the tendering will be initiated only after that.
Tetrapods are large concrete structures that are used around the world to break up wave action and absorb the ocean’s eroding energy.
During the last sea erosion as part of Tauktae cyclone, the seawall was completely destroyed in many places and there is no barrier between the sea and the houses. The delay in the reconstruction of the seawall makes the area more vulnerable to the sea erosion, which is expected in mid-July again.
“The construction of tetrapod seawall involves more complex design and procedures than that of the normal seawall. The effectiveness of the tetrapod interlocking decides the strength of the seawall. National Centre for Coastal Research (NCCR), Chennai, is doing the design works and it is expected to complete soon and based on that the estimate of the project will be finalized. Tendering will be initiated only after that,” said a source.
The cost involved in tetrapod construction is much higher than that of the normal seawall. So the Rs16 crore allotted by the state government appears to be not enough for constructing tetrapod seawall along the coast.
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