On 24 May 2025, residents of Chellanam, a coastal village in Ernakulam, protested demanding a comprehensive package for coastal protection in the midst of rising sea level and threat of flooding of the coast in the rainy season. A month earlier, an agitation by the Chellanam-Kochi Janakeeya Vedi demanding construction of a seawall to protect coastal villages from tidal waves also completed 2,000 days on 18 April 2025.
The continuous protests highlight how the coastal communities in Kerala's Chellanam and Kannamaly face a serious crisis whenever strong sea waves batter their shores. In June 2025, at least 15 homes were completely destroyed and over 100 homes became uninhabitable in the Chellanam area, while four houses were fully damaged and 11 partially, affecting more than 600 households in the Cheriyakkadavu-Kannamaly stretch. As a result, the sea incursion-hit residents laid siege to the Fort Kochi-Alapuzha State highway at Kannamaly for at least three days.
The sea incursion often leaves a trail of destruction, submerging residences, washing away household belongings, and forcing families into temporary relief camps or to seek shelter with relatives. "Every monsoon, we live in constant fear. Our homes are destroyed, our lives uprooted, and we are quite literally at the mercy of the sea," lamented Marykutty, a long-time resident of Chellanam, whose house has been affected multiple times.
After enduring relentless battering by waves every year, residents of Chellanam panchayat are seeking compensation for the damage sustained. The coastal communities have also been demanding a permanent solution to the sea incursion.
While the Kerala government has taken some protective measures, such as placing geo-bags along vulnerable stretches, residents feel that the current defences offer little respite. A local activist, Joseph Xavier, expressed deep frustration, stating, "They build these temporary structures, promise us safety, but they just get washed away. We need permanent seawalls, not these quick fixes that cost public money and offer no real protection." Hence, the residents have been demanding that the vulnerable shore be protected using a tetrapod-based seawall. While tetrapods have been erected around 7 kilometres, nearly as much remains to be covered.
Revenue officials told The Hindu that a Rs 306 crore-project with the funding of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) is in the pipeline. A seven-member team from the ADB also visited the Chellanam panchayat in March 2025.
Residents also approached the Kerala High Court to intervene in the matter and direct the government to find a permanent solution. While hearing a PIL filed by T A Dalfine and two other local residents, the Kerala High Court on 5 June 2025 sought instructions from the state government and Chellanam panchayat regarding temporary measures to protect residents of the Chellanam coastal area from sea erosion during the monsoon. It directed the authorities to report on the feasibility of placing geo-bags/tubes to prevent sea inundation and remarked that emergency shelters are not a lasting solution.
Meanwhile, the State Fisheries department’s Punargeham project for rehabilitating the sea erosion-hit people has seen limited uptake. The department attributes this hesitancy primarily to the scarcity of available land in the Ernakulam district. Under the scheme, financial aid totalling Rs 10 lakh is provided to residents within 50 metres of the high tide line — Rs 6 lakh for buying land and Rs 4 lakh for house construction.
It is important to note that a majority of the affected persons belong to the fishing community, and relocating far away from the sea would adversely affect their livelihood.
Demand/Contention of the Affected Community
Demand for compensation
Demand for rehabilitation
Other Demand/Contention of the Affected Community
To install proper seawalls to protect the coastal community from sea incursions.
Region Classification
Rural
Type of Land
Common and Private
Non-Forest (Other than Grazing Land)
What was the action taken by the police?
How many people did the police detain or arrest?
What is the current status of the detained/accused persons?
Did the person face any violence while in police custody?
If any arrests took place, were the accused persons produced before a judge within 24 hours of the arrest?
If the accused was not produced before a magistrate within 24 hours, or not produced at all, what were the reasons?
Legislation under which the accused was charged
Was the accused person informed of their right to legal representation? Did the accused person have access to legal aid?
In cases where the accused person approached the court for bail, was bail granted?
Why was bail granted or rejected? If granted, what were the bail conditions and quantum of bail?
Details of sources (names of accused, names and numbers of any lawyers, names of any police officers contacted)
Status of Project
Original Project Deadline
Whether the Project has been Delayed
Significance of Land to Land Owners/Users
Fishing, Residential area
Whether the project was stalled due to land conflict
Source/Reference
Total investment involved (in Crores):
₹
Type of investment:
Year of Estimation
Has the Conflict Ended?
No
When did it end?
Why did the conflict end?
Categories of Legislations Involved in the Conflict
Legislations/Policies Involved
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Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Whether claims/objections were made as per procedure in the relevant statute
What was the claim(s)/objection(s) raised by the community?
What was the Decision of the Concerned Government Department?
Legal Processes and Loopholes Enabling the Conflict:
Non-rehabilitation of displaced people
Legal Status:
In Court
Status of Case In Court
Pending
Whether any adjudicatory body was approached
Name of the adjudicatory body
Name(s) of the Court(s)
Kerala High Court
Case Number
WP(C) NO. 10964 OF 2021(S)
Main Reasoning/Decision of court
Major Human Rights Violations Related to the Conflict:
Whether criminal law was used against protestors:
Reported Details of the Violation:
Date of Violation
Location of Violation
Government Departments Involved in the Conflict:
Irrigation Department, Government of Kerala; Fisheries Department, Government of Kerala; Kerala State Disaster Management Authority
PSUs Involved in the Conflict:
Did LCW Approach Government Authorities for Comments?
Name, Designation and Comment of the Government Authorities Approached
Corporate Parties Involved in the Conflict:
Did LCW Approach Corporate Parties for Comments?
Communities/Local Organisations in the Conflict:
The Chellanam - Kochi People's Forum
What was the action taken by the police?
How many people did the police detain or arrest?
What is the current status of the detained/accused persons?
Did the person face any violence while in police custody?
If any arrests took place, were the accused persons produced before a judge within 24 hours of the arrest?
If the accused was not produced before a magistrate within 24 hours, or not produced at all, what were the reasons?
Legislation under which the accused was charged
Was the accused person informed of their right to legal representation? Did the accused person have access to legal aid?
In cases where the accused person approached the court for bail, was bail granted?
Why was bail granted or rejected? If granted, what were the bail conditions and quantum of bail?
Were there any other notable irregularities that took place, or other significant details?
