Following Traces

The drawing talks about the change in water level over the years and the changes in morphology that have happened due to the continuous sea erosion. It maps out the destruction that was caused on the edge because of the cyclones and seasonal floods.  

 In 2004, there were around 200 active houses in the settlement with a lot of coconut vegetation along the sea edge. They had a huge amount of mango and chikoo plantation in their private gardens. There was a seawall made in stone and the sea water closer to the settlement.

Due to seasonal floods in 2017, the seawall was damaged and a wall of geo-bags was constructed, the canal became active and thus connected to the backwater on the other side of the main road. The houses on the outer edge are dilapidated and the coconut vegetation is washed out completely. The change in water level also results in land weathering.

In 2019, Chellanum faced heavy floods and cyclone and the complete settlement was flooded. The canal was under heavy water flow which increased pressure on the backwater. The land was recovered by pushing the water level behind and the construction of the seawall began. The houses in the complete settlement were dilapidated till towards the main road. The mango and chikoo plantation in the private gardens were washed out completely.

In 2022, the empty space that is the washed out houses is used for storage of tetrapods and stone that are used for construction. The dilapidated house are further renovated and used by the resident and the workers 

involved in construction. Houses are completely reconstructed with changed typology more towards the main road edge. New plantations are developed specifically mangoes and chikoos. The arrangement of tetrapods on the stones of the sea wall makes it 6 meters high.