Daijiworld Media Network - Kaup (SP)

Kaup, May 3: Unlike in the past when assurances were in abundance and relief short-lived, people living near the Arabian Sea at Mattu near Kaup are no more overtaken by the fear of surging sea. The place of worry and tension on their faces has been occupied now by a confident smile and sense of relief. Thanks to Kaup MLA, Vinay Kumar Sorake, they have been provided with a permanent solution against erosion by sea and river.

Ashok from Mattu who has grown up witnessing all the moods of Arabian Sea says that sea waves have been a part and parcel of his life since birth. He recalls that since the last many years, a lurking fear about rainy season had kept the people on tenterhooks because they were forced to shift their residences away the moment the sea turned furious. "We totally depend on the sea for our existence. Since the last many years we had been approaching people's representatives seeking relief from this life threatening problem. But relief remained a mirage," he recalls.

Sea erosion has become a huge problem during the monsoon months for people living near the sea. The people living near the sea are not afraid of the sea in itself but the fear of sea erosion haunts them during rainy season. People living near the seashore begin their work much before dawn. But they have not been able to keep away the fear that the sea might anytime surge ahead and occupy their homes.

These people have made umpteen representations to people who matter, seeking permanent solution to the problem of sea erosion. Most of the officials and departments used this opportunity to make money by unloading boulders at seashore with the connivance of district administration. These boulders eventually reached the abysmal depths of the sea. Permanent solution remained elusive as the concerned were not serious enough about its possibility. But this time, Kaup MLA, Vinay Kumar Sorake, sympathized with the plight of the people here, and took pains to see that permanent protective wall is built here. In addition, he also has arranged for permanent protective wall for people living in the next region where river erosion was a major problem.

Sorake, with sincere understanding and efforts, made sure that protective wall on Japan model is built here, and thus provided complete relief to the fishermen families. So far, it had become common for the boulders stacked on the beaches, some houses, coconut trees and fisheries roads to get washed away by the sea every year. Finally, grievances of the affected people have been heard, their problems have been understood, and permanent measures have been taken to save them from problems.

The work of construction of permanent protective wall on the sea shore as per Japanese technology has been going on from Mattu in Kaup to Udyavar. With this project under execution, people have heaved a sigh of relief.

Ashok from Mattu says that the people in the vicinity of the sea were overtaken by fear when recently sea acted tough and high tide was experienced for a few days. "We were apprehensive about the need to leave our homes and stay elsewhere but because of the protective wall, people could stay on. We are happy that our MLA's efforts have borne fruits," he admits.

Janaki, another resident of Mattu, says that during the previous river erosion, walls of her house had developed cracks and the building had crashed. In a relieved tone she appreciates the MLA for finding a solution to river erosion through permanent protective wall. She says herself and people like her are every grateful to Sorake for this endeavour.