Coastal Fury: Pozhiyoor Road Washed Away Again

The coastal belt of Pozhiyoor, near the Kerala-Tamil Nadu border, suffered significant damage overnight due to severe sea erosion. Roads connecting coastal villages to the mainland were washed away, isolating families and damaging fishing assets.

The recently reconstructed Pozhiyoor-Neerody road, which had previously been destroyed by 'kallakkadal' six months prior, succumbed again to heavy waves. Residents had warned authorities that the temporary geobag protection would be insufficient, advocating instead for permanent groynes or a seawall. Their concerns were reportedly unheeded.

Local communities point to the successful construction of groynes by Tamil Nadu five years ago, noting that erosion intensified on the Kerala side afterward. Despite this, permanent protective structures have not been implemented in Pozhiyoor, leading to significant inland sea encroachment.

The incident has renewed focus on the delayed Pozhiyoor coastal protection project, which received a revised financial sanction of Rs 93.22 crore earlier this year. However, residents report a lack of tangible progress on the ground, despite the project's KIIFB funding.

Emergency restoration measures are underway to re-establish connectivity and mitigate further damage. A detailed assessment will guide the government's urgent intervention. Local representatives have visited the affected areas, assuring efforts to strengthen permanent coastal protection.