Coastal erosion worsens; projects worth ₹5,000 crore yet to take off

Studies show that over 55% of the state's 590-km coastline is vulnerable to erosion

- Shainu Mohan @T'Puram

Frequent sea surges and alarming levels of erosion continue to batter Kerala's 590-km shoreline, displacing thousands of coastal residents year after year. Studies show that over 55% of the state's coastline is vulnerable to erosion.

Given the lack of funds for large-scale intervention to protect the shoreline, the state government has collaborated with international agencies like the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the World Bank for external financial assistance. However, even after three years, the state government is unable to launch any of the projects, estimated to be worth ₹5,000 crore, sparking concern among the coastal communities.