THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The fear of the annual exodus to relief camps on account of sea erosion has struck coastal hamlets in the district early this year. The sea surge has intensified and sea erosion has hit Valiyathura and Poonthura. The waves have already started lashing the walls of several houses in coastal hamlets. Due to untimely sea erosion in December caused by cyclone Ockhi, the beaches had already lost sand cover and remain more prone to the impact caused by surging waves.
"It would be a double whammy for us this year. We are already suffering from a drop in production after Ockhi. We have lost men at sea. Some have not yet resumed work. Imagine our plight when sea erosion begins this year. Nature and our government are pushing us to the wall," said Solomon Raju, a fisherman lamenting delays in rehabilitation plans. Experts say things might go more critical in June- July as the annual high wave season begins. Maximum sand accretion usually occurs soon after the South West Monsoon. However, Ockhi had eaten nearly 30m to 60metre of beaches.
The small spells of rains that occurred last week have only worsened the condition. The boats in many of the hamlets presently bank on the sparse shoreline available at Shangumugham and Kochuthoppu. Elsewhere in the district, the erosion has taken dangerous proportions in areas like Anchuthengu, Thazhampally, Poothura, north of Muthalapozhi breakwater.
