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New Indian Express
a day ago
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Offshore breakwaters proposed for Shankhumukham trigger debate
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: As Shankhumukham Beach continues to face severe erosion, experts have recommended the construction of offshore breakwaters to protect the shoreline and restore the once-popular destination in the state capital. However, the proposal has triggered criticism and concern, with many pointing to the still-incomplete offshore breakwater project at nearby Poonthura. MLA Antony Raju, after discussions with multiple departments and experts, has decided to push the offshore-breakwater project mooted by the Kerala State Coastal Area Development Corporation (KSCADC) to protect the Shankhumukham. However, the decision hasn't gone down well with the irrigation department -- which is responsible for coastal conservation in the state. The decision to proceed with the offshore-breakwater project has come at a time when the irrigation department has drawn up a comprehensive project, funded by the Asian Development Bank (ADB), to construct 'land-locked breakwater' at Shankhumukham -- one of the critical spots under threat of erosion in the state. The department has decided to oppose the offshore-breakwater project on the grounds that it's not suitable for Shankhumukham Beach. According to official sources, the department has already submitted a proposal. The Rs 150-crore project proposes beach nourishment along with land-locked breakwater and is expected to be completed within five years. 'The ADB-funded project is a foolproof project which has been drawn up after years of study. Government approval will see the project take off immediately. Offshore breakwater is not suitable for beaches like Shankhumukham which have very high wave activity,' a senior official with the department said. 'Nothing has been finalised and there will be more discussion at the government-level,' the official added.
The Hindu
16-05-2025
- Business
- The Hindu
Govt. nod for ADB-funded drinking water project in Kochi
The State Cabinet has approved the contract for the proposed Asian Development Bank (ADB)-funded Kerala Urban Water Supply Improvement Project in Kochi. It also decided to issue administrative sanction to include the 190-million litre per day (MLD) water treatment plant in Aluva in the ADB-funded project. The State government had earlier given administrative approval for the ADB-assisted 24X7 uninterrupted water supply scheme for Thiruvananthapuram and Kochi in 2020. The government had approved an outlay of ₹2,511 crore submitted by the Kerala Water Authority (KWA), the implementing agency, for the project. The ADB loan will constitute 70% (₹1,757.7 crore) of the total amount. The State will chip in with the remaining 30% (₹753.3 crore) as its share. Later, it was decided to implement the first phase of the project within the Kochi city limits. Two works — renovation of the drinking water distribution network and an expression of interest for selecting a project consultant — had been tendered initially. The combine of trade unions in the KWA had opposed the project as they feared that it might ultimately result in the privatisation of water distribution system in Kochi. The project to source 190 MLD water from the Periyar to end drinking water scarcity in and around Kochi was included in the ADB-funded Kerala Urban Water Supply Improvement scheme in Kochi to speed up its implementation. The 190-MLD project was conceived on 1.57 hectares of KWA-owned land near the agency's water treatment plant in Aluva. The aim was to ensure drinking water supply to areas under the Kochi Corporation, five nearby municipalities, and 13 panchayats. It was mooted since the existing drinking water supply fell short of the domestic and commercial requirements of consumers.
