A permanent solution to the woes of families in the city’s coastal areas, who have been facing the brunt of seasonal sea erosion, might be a long way away. The proposal for housing blocks on 5.5 acres of land in Muttathara to rehabilitate 116 families from Valiyathura and surrounding areas have now hit a roadblock. The city Corporation and the Kerala Water Authority have said that a housing project on this land is unfeasible as it is located close to the Sewage Treatment Plant. At a meeting of people’s representatives, councillors, and representatives of the church held at the chamer of Fisheries Minister J. Mercykutty Amma on Wednesday, the Minister conveyed this issue to them. This led to strong opposition from fishermen organisations and V.S. Sivakumar, MLA. Vilappilsala-like’ We had decided earlier to start the rehabilitation within a month. But the Corporation and the KWA pointed out that the treatment plant is running at 30 per cent capacity now. When it becomes fully operational, it might create problems for people residing in this area and we might have to rehabilitate them again. It might even lead to a situation like in Vilappilsala. So I told the MLA and the other representatives to consider this opinion. We are not adamant that the project should not happen there, but we don’t have a positive report on it, Ms. Mercykutty Amma told The Hindu . MLA’s objection But Mr. Sivakumar says that he will oppose any move to take the project out of Muttathara. The UDF government had towards the end of its term issued an order allocating the land for the project. It is close to where they live now. We will not allow the land to be used for any other purpose, he says. Tony Oliver, general secretary of the Theeradesa Nerthru Vedi, dismisses the argument that the land is unfeasible. Near this land is a whole line of institutions, including the CAPE Engineering College, its hostel, the Border Security Force’s quarters and the under-construction CBI office. If these buildings can be located here, why can’t the housing project be? he asks. Extra expenses However, the Minister says that these projects incurred extra expenses for filling up as the land is marshy. The Coastal Area Development Corporation has identified 10-15 acres at different locations. We have to take over these and see if the project can be located there, says the Minister. Currently, there is also a dispute on the list of beneficiaries for the project. The meeting decided to set up a committee of people’s representatives, fishermen organisations and church representatives to identify beneficiaries within three months. Those beneficiaries who can identify land by themselves have been offered Rs.5-6 lakh to buy land and another Rs.3 lakh to construct houses. But fishermen’s organisations have opposed this offer too, as the amount could be insufficient to buy land.
2016, The Hindu