The Karikattukuppam beach near Kovalam, once lost to soil erosion, has been restored, the state govt has told National Green Tribunal (NGT) in response to a case filed by environmentalists against construction of groynes to prevent soil erosion.
During the Covid-19 pandemic, severe erosion had nearly wiped out the beach, leaving fishermen without a safe place to berth their boats. Now, following the construction of groynes and breakwaters, a 60-metre stretch has re-emerged, providing a lifeline to the village. The govt claimed that these structures have effectively prevented soil erosion at Karikattukuppam and nearby fishing villages, improving the livelihood of local fishermen.
However, environmentalist K Saravanan filed a case alleging that the groynes were constructed illegally and caused adverse environmental impacts. He argued that the hard structures violated the Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) notification of 2011 and an earlier NGT judgment, which advocated for softer shore protection solutions.
In response, the govt’s Fishing Harbor Project Division, Chennai, submitted a status report detailing the steps taken to combat the severe erosion that had plagued the area over the past five years. Following a feasibility study and expert consultations with IIT Madras, 16 crore was sanctioned for the construction of a fish landing center and shore protection works at Karikattukuppam. The district coastal zone management authority cleared the environmental impact assessment (EIA) study and CRZ map and forwarded them to the state-level authority for final approval.
The govt defended the necessity of the groynes and breakwaters, emphasizing that these measures were essential to protect the coastal villages from further erosion. The restoration efforts, completed between June 2023 and Jan 2024, have not only revived the beach but also secured the future of the local fishing community.