Uralungal may take up second phase seawall work at Chellanam, HC told

Kochi: The state govt has informed high court that technical sanction for the second phase construction of a seawall in the Chellanam coastal region near Kochi would be accorded shortly, and that the project may be awarded to Uralungal Labour Contract Co-operative Society on a nomination basis.The senior govt pleader further submitted that the matter is pending consideration before the technical sanction committee, as the financial sanction has already been issued. The govt made these submissions in response to petitions by V T Sebastian, T A Dalfine and others from Chellanam, seeking immediate and urgent measures to prevent sea erosion and damage caused by sea waves in the coastal area.It was also submitted that anti-sea erosion works are being undertaken on a priority basis, depending on the vulnerability and severity of the affected areas, as well as the availability of geobags. Recording the submissions, a bench of Chief Justice Soumen Sen and Justice V M Syam Kumar directed the govt to file an affidavit detailing the progress made in this regard, along with particulars of anti-sea erosion works already undertaken and those proposed on a priority basis, within three weeks. HC adjourned the petitions to April 1.During an earlier hearing, in compliance with HC's directions, the chief engineer (irrigation and administration) had filed an affidavit stating that a govt order dated Jan 25, 2026, had been issued granting administrative sanction for the project titled ‘ASE – Reformation of Damaged Sunken Sea Wall and Allied Works Using Tetrapods'. The order sanctioned an amount of Rs 404 crore for execution of the project, with funding through Kerala Infrastructure Investment Fund Board.