Ernakulam (Kerala): Leader of Opposition in the Kerala Assembly, VD Satheesan, accused the Left government of neglecting the issue of sea erosion, which is severely impacting the lives and livelihoods of the fishing communities in the state. "During the monsoon and all other seasons, aggressive sea erosion is happening in the state. So many houses have been lost and people are in trouble," Satheesan told ANI at Edavanakad coastal village in Ernakulam, where several homes are affected due to sea erosion.

Congress MP Hibi Eden accompanied Satheesan during his visit to the village. "There are no roads as they are washed away. People who can't live there, especially poor fishermen, are facing issues as they are struggling to make ends meet. Their only livelihood is fishing; they are leaving the place. Unfortunately, the government isn't doing anything," Satheesan stated.

Satheesan alleged that the state government had made numerous promises to the people living in the coastal area, but none have been fulfilled. "The state government has to protect the coastal areas from sea erosion. The Kerala Fisheries Minister has given so many promises to the people living in the coastal area but nothing has happened. Packages for the coastal areas announced in the previous budgets have not been implemented, with not even a single rupee being spent to contain sea erosion."

He highlighted the increasing turbulence of the Arabian Sea and the suffering of the fishing community. "Maybe because of climate change or some other reasons, the Arabian Sea is very turbulent and the fishing community is suffering too much. They cannot shift to live in any other area, as fishing is their livelihood. We have to give protection to the people living in the coastal areas. Unfortunately, the state government is not doing anything," he said.

Satheesan mentioned that Hibi Eden received a response in Parliament from the central government indicating no project submission from the state government for containing sea erosion. "Our MP (Hibi Eden) got an answer in Parliament from the central government that there is no pending project submitted by the state government. That is very surprising because we need financial assistance from the central government." ANI