A study headed by a US-based researcher Dr. Clement Lopez, a former researcher at the Department of Future Studies, University of Kerala, says the construction of the Vizhinjam International seaport is not the causative factor for the accelerated erosion along the coastline of Thiruvananthapuram. The study which analysed various factors including the pattern of shoreline changes along the coastline from 1985 to 2022 and around 15 pre-requisites to dissect the real causative factors of beach erosion in terms of port, groins, climate/cyclones, harbor, etc., found no correlation between the port project and the erosion along certain stretches of the coastline.
The study which assumed significance in the light of the agitation by fisherfolk alleging that the project had resulted in intense erosion of beaches, affecting their livelihood., revealed that in beaches adjacent to the north of the port like Poonthura, Beemappally, Cheriyathura, the erosion was on a diminishing or decelerating scale during the period from 2015-2022 compared to the shoreline data of 2003-2015. Further, there was considerable beach accretion in Beemappally and Cheriyathura in recent times as a result of groins built in the area to check erosion.
On the flip side, in Valiayathura, Thope, and Shanghumugham beaches, the erosion continued during the 2015-2022 period like in the pattern of the pre-port construction phase. If the port was the causative factor, the port-induced erosion should be severe in beaches close to the port like Poonthura, then Beemappally and Cheriathura after 2016 (Port construction began), and then on a diminishing scale in the coming beaches like Valiathura, Thope, and Shangumugham beaches. But here the erosion was insignificant on the first three beaches close to the port and on a steady increase on the next three beaches like in the pre-port phase, the study said.
