Construction-free beaches an Utopian idea for Kerala: T Peter

Thiruvananthapuram: A section of fishermen has rubbished fisheries minister J. Mercykutty Amma’s idea to make all beaches in the state free of construction and save fishermen from becoming victims of sea erosion.

The minister during a recent discussion on the demands for grants in the assembly had demanded Rs 788 crore to create a 522 km coastal road. The 5-metre road was planned to connect all harbours and fish landing centres and act as a boundary that separated beach from populated area. All fishermen hamlets will be relocated to landward side of the road as per the plans. Fishermen organisations, however, say relocating 20,000 families from the hamlets is an impossible task except in very few areas.

“Clearing up beaches in certain coastal areas such as Anchuthengu, Alappad and Chellanam may work,” said T. Peter, president of the Swatantra Matsya Thozhilali Federation. “If the government has plans to free up entire beaches that can only be a plan to help tourism lobby.”  

As per activists there has been extensive studies on places worst affected by sea erosion and the relocations should be limited to those.

“We understand that the sea walls only aggravate sea erosion,” Mr Peter said. “The issues can be solved by relocating people in sea-erosion affected areas such as Valiyathura. The plans to clear up all beaches sounds like a Utopian idea.”

Fishermen activists say that the existing coastal roads are good enough to ensure connectivity between harbours and fish landing centres.