The Kerala High Court has told the Additional Chief Secretary of the Water Resources department to take swift action to protect Edavanakkad grama panchayath in Ernakulam district. The court wants to ensure the safety of people and their property by strengthening protective structures. Residents asked for urgent construction of a seawall along their 2.4 km coastal shore, which suffers from sea and soil erosion. The District Collector’s affidavit dated October 29 said that Vypin Island, where Edavanakkad is located, is a narrow strip between the Arabian Sea and backwaters. Earlier seawalls protected 22.7 km of the coast, but strong waves and erosion have broken many seawalls. This has allowed seawater to flood homes even during normal sea conditions. The most affected areas are in Edavanakkad and Nayarambalam panchayats. The Kerala High Court expressed hope that authorities will now act with the seriousness and speed the problem demands.