Mon Jun 23 15:37:29 UTC 2025: **News Article:**
**Chellanam Residents Protest Government Inaction on Sea Erosion; Hartal Called Off After Promise of Action**
**Kochi, India – June 23, 2025:** Residents of Chellanam panchayat, grappling with severe sea erosion, staged a torchlight protest on Monday organized by the Chellanam-Kochi Janakeeya Vedhi. The demonstration was in response to the registration of a police case against priests from the Alappuzha and Kochi dioceses who had undertaken a hunger strike to support the affected residents.
The Janakeeya Vedhi has since called off a planned hartal scheduled for June 30th. This decision follows assurances from the District Collector to raise the issue of sea erosion in a meeting with the Chief Minister slated for July 3rd. The organization strongly condemned the police action against the protesting priests, labeling it an attempt to suppress dissent. They demanded the immediate withdrawal of the case.
“Since March, residents have been pleading with the government to implement preventive measures against sea incursion before the monsoon’s arrival,” stated V.T. Sebastian, general convener of the Vedhi. “However, due to alleged government apathy, numerous homes along the Chellanam coast have been damaged, rendering them uninhabitable. The government was swift to file a case against the priests, yet slow to address the underlying issue of sea erosion.”
Following a Kerala High Court directive, the District Collector convened a meeting where it was decided to deploy temporary geobag barriers along seven vulnerable coastal stretches. The Collector pledged the work would be expedited. However, with the next new moon and its associated high tides imminent, the Vedhi warns that the promised temporary solutions are far from complete, highlighting the inefficacy of current disaster mitigation efforts. The organization is urging the government to demonstrate urgency and accelerate the completion of these crucial protective measures.
First Piper 