Sat Oct 04 05:42:18 UTC 2025: Okay, here’s a news article summarizing the provided text:
**Coastal Erosion Relief Delayed: Chellanam Residents Fear Further Inaction on Seawall Project**
**Kochi, India – October 4, 2025** – Residents of Chellanam, a coastal panchayat in Kerala highly susceptible to sea erosion, are growing increasingly concerned about delays in the second phase of a crucial tetrapod seawall project. Despite the Kerala government approving a ₹306-crore plan three months ago, progress remains stalled, sparking fears that the project may not commence before upcoming local body elections trigger a model code of conduct.
The Chellanam-Kochi Janakeeya Vedhi, a local organization that has been protesting for a permanent solution to sea incursion for six years, has announced a day-long demonstration on October 28th to mark the seventh year of their struggle. They are demanding urgent action to secure renewed administrative, technical, and financial sanctions for the project before the election notification.
The first phase of the project, completed in 2023 at a cost of ₹347 crore, covered a 7.3-km stretch of coastline. However, a planned extension was cut short due to revised estimates, leaving a significant portion of the coastline vulnerable.
The Janakeeya Vedhi criticizes the government’s piecemeal approach, arguing that it is inadequate to address the worsening sea erosion. They are urging the government to extend the tetrapod seawall beyond the originally planned limits, ensuring comprehensive protection for all affected areas in Chellanam. The Irrigation department has identified Chellanam as one of the worst affected among the 10 coastal erosion hotspots in Kerala.
First Piper 