Thiruvananthapuram: The protection work of the ‘arattu kalmandapam’ at Shanghumugham will begin within two weeks as part of the broader Shanghumugham Beach protection project. The irrigation department, which is implementing the initiative, will float a tender this week to install 120 metres of polypropylene geotubes around the mandapam. The project, funded with Rs 35 lakh from the MLA fund of local legislator Antony Raju, received administrative sanction from district collector Anu Kumari on Saturday.Raju also plans to submit a proposal to the state govt on Monday, seeking approval to extend the geotube protection along the entire beach, in place of the proposed offshore breakwater using rock granules. However, this extended beach protection project will be implemented only after the state govt gives its decision.“This is a crucial step in preserving a heritage structure of deep cultural and religious significance to our city,” said Raju. “Geotubes offer an eco-friendly option that protects the arattu mandapam without disturbing the beach’s natural beauty.”Raju also plans to lodge a formal complaint with tourism minister PA Mohammed Riyas, after the tourism department declined to fund the geotube project citing a budget shortfall. “A previous meeting had concluded that the department would provide Rs 35 lakh for the project. However, tourism director Shikha Surendran refused the allocation despite the importance of arattu mandapam and Shanghumugham as key tourism sites,” he said.A tourism department official defended the decision, stating that financial constraints had prevented the allocation. However, he said: “We support this move and will assist in all technical clearances and project monitoring.”The geotube installation follows recommendations from a high-level expert committee led by MV Ramana Murthy of the National Centre for Coastal Research (NCCR). The committee, chaired by Raju, had assessed multiple coastal protection methods, including offshore geotubes, groynes, diaphragm walls, and sand nourishment.Shanghumugham Beach, the sacred ‘Arattukadavu’ for Lord Padmanabhaswamy’s annual holy bath, has suffered severe erosion in recent years. Reports from the NCCR and state agencies indicate coastal land loss of nearly 4.7 metres annually, endangering heritage structures and local infrastructure.
