Fear over impact of Veli breakwater project

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The possible environmental impact of the proposed Veli breakwater projects in the coastal belt has finally been acknowledged because the Governor, in his inaugural address before the budget session, said that the project to overcome this would commence in 2017-18. As per plans, two breakwater structures will replace the sand bar between the sea and Akkulam lake and help avert floods in the city.

“We fear a drop in groundwater levels in certain parts of the city if we establish a permanent connection between Akkulam lake and the sea. Presently, contractors mechanically remove sand from sand bars during the monsoon to prevent flooding of low level areas in the city,” said a senior irrigation official. The Harbour department has been sitting on the project for around eight years due to the possibility of increased sea erosion.

“Accelerated sea erosion could negatively impact beaches from Thumba to Perumathura,” he added. Fishermen's groups also have often pointed out issues due to pollutants continuously being discharged into the sea affecting marine life and beaches. Every year, protests take place at both ends of Parvathi Puthanar at Veli and Poonthura as pollutants including hospital waste enters the sea.

The Rs 27-crore project was fasttracked in 2015 during the flood mitigation effort under Operation Anantha. The non-breakage of sandbar on time was identified as the prime reason for flooding. “In olden days, the sand bar used to naturally break and never cause flooding in the capital. Later, housing settlements were built on low lying areas close to the wetlands. Now it requires human intervention for same,” official explained.