A project kicked off five years ago to construct ten groynes at Panathura near here is yet to be completed, and the local people and organisations here say that the inordinate delay will lead to the gradual destruction of the sea wall, putting the entire coast on this stretch in danger.
Construction of ten groynes (‘pulimuttu’) was approved by the government on the basis of a study by IIT-Madras and work started in 2007 at Panathurakkara. Thus far, only two groynes have been constructed as part of a pilot project.
‘’If the construction of the remaining eight groynes get delayed further, the lives of nearly 500 families on this stretch of the coast will be in danger. In fact, it will also endanger the existing two groynes as well as the sea wall,’’ Akhila Kerala Dheevara Sabha organising Panathura Puruishothaman said.
The sabha has submitted representations to Chief Minister Oommen Chandy and Water Resources Minister P J Joseph to get the work completed.
Although the government had given administrative sanction to release Rs 14.90 crore for the construction of the eight groynes, this sum was found insufficient and a revised estimate was submitted to the Central Water Commission. A revised project estimated at Rs 22.29 crore has been gathering dust, sabha leaders said.