THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The irrigation department has begun a a corporate style campaign to create conducive public opinion in favour of the controversial Veli Breakwater project, claim activists. The 200 metre structure was expected to keep the Akkulam-Veli lake system connected to the sea 24x7. However, activists and a section of government officials were against it due to environmental impact that included increased release of plastic and solid waste into the sea.
“Currently the irrigation department is hard selling this project claiming that fisherman can launch their boats into the sea from here. It is to be noted that the 370 metres long Muthalapozhi breakwater has led to the death of 30 fishermen including one earlier this week. The Veli breakwater will not be beneficial to fishermen and can damage the sea and beaches,” said Robert Panipilla, Chief Coordinator of Friends of Marine Life.
Underwater pictures revealed that the floods in the city last week had unloaded a massive quantity of waste into the sea. Other cons of the project were an expected drop in groundwater level in many areas of the city. Also the breakwater could accelerate sea erosion on beaches from Thumba to Perumathura. However, the irrigation department denies that it conducted campaigns. But it points out that the breakwater was important to avoid flooding in the city.
“The natural breakage of Veli sand bar was enough to prevent floods in the old days. Currently, housing settlements have come up close to wetlands and canals all over the city. During sporadic rains and high tide, the water from these canals do not drain out to the sea quickly, even if we mechanically break open the sand bar. So a 24x7 connection is very important,” said a Major Irrigation official. The Rs 27-crore project which was envisaged a decade ago was put on hold due to the fear of environment impact. It was fast tracked in 2015 after flood mitigation efforts under Operation Anantha.
