Kerala: Geotextile tubes beat sea lashes in Neerkunnam

Alappuzha: While the government is spending crores of rupees for constructing conventional rock-bed seawalls, geosystems tubes built by the irrigation department under a pilot project in Neerkunnam still survive fighting annual rough sea phenomenon.

As the rough sea take a toll on the neighbouring coasts such as Thrikkunnapuzha and Arattupuzha, the local people say they got great relief since the tubes were implanted in April 2016 along the 100-metre shore.

Deccan Chronicle had first reported about this innovative seawall on April 8 last year. Shaji alias Aniyan, member, Ambalappuzha North panchayat, said that for last two season of sea attacks so far it has shown strength to deal with it.

“We don’t know how long it will be here, but the system is combating the rough waves to a great extent and is better and stronger than the rocky,” he says.

“The entire works got done for Rs 60 lakh. If the government had opted to lay rocks in the same distance, it would have cost at least Rs 1 crore.” The area was chosen considering the nature of high tide that wreaked havoc on human life in the past here. The technology introduced after the traditional seawall along the two-km stretch of the Madhavamukku in Ambal-apuzha South vanished.

However, tubes are made of high-strength geosynthetic fabrics that allow the water to flow through pores retaining the filled up sand.

Shinoymon, a resident, endorses the system because it was environment-friendly, cost-effective and strong to beat waves. “We were surprised by its performance during fierce lashing last June and July,” he said. “Though many surrounding places came under attack from the sea, this year so far the waves are restricted causing no damages.”

It is for the first time in the country that geotextile tubes are being experimented along a seashore. Following recent sea attacks wreaking havoc along the coastal areas, the government had announced Rs 3 crore for conventional seawalls, ignoring this proven technology.