The Kerala High court has ordered the implementaion a 100 year old British recommendation to prevent sea erosion in Fort Kochi while hearing a the petition filed by former Kochi mayor CM Dinesh Mani and TX Harry seeking intervention into the issue.
According to The Times of India a division bench comprising chief justice Ashok Bhushan and justice PR Ramachandra Menon ordered the central government to convene an urgent meeting to evolve a proper scheme to protect the beach.
The report says that on January 18, 1918 British had recommended building groynes for protecting the Fort Kochi beach. A London-based engineering firm, Sir John Wolfe Barry, Lyster and Partners, was also assigned to conduct a study. The study report was later submitted to the Resident of Travancore and Cochin and was handed over to the then King of Kochi for implementation, but as per records no action was further taken.
Senior lawyer S Ramesh Babu, who appeared for the petitioners, argued in court that the beach would vanish if there is no immediate interference. He also alleged that unscientific dredging by Cochin Port Trust (CPT) is also resulting in adverse consequences.
As a positive response from the part of the court, it asked the central government to convene an urgent meeting and bring about a proper scheme, "After hearing, we find that the necessity to protect the beach cannot be ignored. Appropriate remedial measures have to be taken by all concerned," court said according to TOI.