A final detailed project report (DPR) for a ₹941-crore scheme to develop Chellanam into a model, eco-friendly fishing village has been submitted to the State government by the Kerala University of Fisheries and Ocean Studies (KUFOS) and Kerala State Coastal Area Development Corporation (KSCADC).
Chellanam, which has a total of 8,680 households, is among the worst-affected in the State due to frequent flooding. It is also one of the most populated grama panchayats and has double the population density of Kerala, at 860 persons per sq. km. Many houses do not have toilets while waste disposal remains a serious issue.