THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said that Kerala society is united to face climate change and its crises.

He was inaugurating the cyclone shelters constructed at Thiruvananthapuram Muttathara and Alappuzha Kumarapuram for temporary accommodation for coastal residents in such emergency situations.

The government has the responsibility to protect the state and nature and hand it over to future generations. We are preparing for it by promoting electric vehicles, nature-friendly transport, the use of hydrogen fuel, and the promotion of renewable energy sources. Setting up of cyclone shelters for disaster management is also a part of this.

17 cyclone shelters are being constructed in the coastal districts at a cost of 78 crores to solve the difficulties of relocating people in case of disaster warnings. It has the support of the World Bank and the National Cyclone Risk Mitigation Project. 13 shelters have already been handed over to the state and two more are being inaugurated. The three-storey centers have special facilities for women and differently-abled persons.

They can be used for school classrooms, indoor game practice, women's gymnasiums, and other groups when there is no natural disaster. The Chief Minister said that the shelter management committee will decide on this matter.

Minister Antony Raju presided over the function at the shelter premises in Muttathara and Minister V Sivankutty was the chief guest. Mayor Arya Rajendran, District Panchayat President D Suresh Kumar, Additional Chief Secretary Revenue Disaster Relief Department Dr. A Jayathilak, Land Revenue Commissioner TV Anupama, Collector Geromick George, Councilor J Sudhir, and others were present. Fisheries Minister Saji Cherian presided over the function in Alappuzha.