Kovalam, September 30, 2026: A new ₹10-crore coastal protection project has been proposed for Kovalam to address the continuing erosion affecting its popular tourist shoreline, particularly Hawa Beach and Lighthouse Beach.

The proposal, prepared by the Kerala State Coastal Area Development Corporation, is based on a study by the National Institute of Ocean Technology (NIOT), Chennai. The project is currently awaiting government approval.

Submerged geotubes planned offshore

The proposed protection system uses large sand-filled geotubes positioned below the sea surface rather than constructing conventional structures directly along the beach.

According to the project proposal, the geotubes would be installed approximately 150 to 200 metres offshore, at a depth of around 4 to 5 metres. The submerged structures are designed to reduce the energy of incoming waves before they reach the shoreline, potentially helping to slow the rate of coastal erosion.

The proposed approach is also consistent with earlier planning for Kovalam, where offshore geotube-based coastal protection has been considered as part of wider efforts to protect and improve the destination's beaches. Government tender documents have previously identified geotube-based offshore protection for Lighthouse Beach as one of the planned components of Kovalam's beach-development programme.

Experience from Poonthura behind new proposal

The Kovalam proposal follows the reported implementation of a similar geotube-based intervention at Poonthura. Officials involved in the latest proposal are drawing on the experience there while assessing the suitability of the approach for Kovalam's coastline.

The project is expected to have implications beyond shoreline protection. Officials associated with the proposal have pointed to the possibility of the submerged structures becoming a habitat for marine life, potentially supporting the formation of fish habitats around the installation.

Protecting a major tourism destination

Coastal erosion has become an important concern for Kovalam because the beaches are central to the destination's tourism economy. The resort town attracts domestic and international visitors for its beaches, accommodation, wellness services and water-based activities.

The proposed intervention therefore has a direct tourism dimension. Protecting the beach area could help safeguard the destination's tourism infrastructure and maintain the recreational character of Hawa Beach and Lighthouse Beach, while providing a more sustainable approach to managing shoreline erosion.

The proposal comes as Kerala continues to invest in coastal resilience. In March 2026, the state issued an in-principle sanction for anti-sea-erosion works at several coastal hotspots under the Kerala Sustainable Coastal Protection & Climate Resilient Planning Project.

If approved and implemented, the Kovalam project would add another significant coastal-protection initiative to the destination's ongoing development plans.