The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : Velankanni economy a shambles

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Jan 09, 2005

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu

Velankanni economy a shambles

By S. Ganesan

NAGAPATTINAM, JAN. 8. The economy of the pilgrimage town, Velankanni in Nagapattinam district, largely dependent on a floating population, is a shambles as the tourist inflow has been reduced to a trickle after the December 26 tsunami strike.

The town, which saw a huge loss of lives, appears a war-ravaged zone. Businessmen have been hit by a fear psychosis triggered by the seismic waves.

A large number of shops were washed away. Hundreds of others in the busy lanes are sinking for want of business. Except a few, even those which escaped the fury of tsunami still remain closed. "Almost all our rooms are vacant," says a lodge manager. The lodging facilities of the shrine too are yet to open. Buses, which operated to full capacity, now carry very few passengers, mostly relatives of the missing pilgrims. But for the presence of hundreds of aid workers and government officials, the town now has few visitors. Some from the neighbouring villages drop in to see the damage on the seashore. "The tsunami has scared people away from seashores. We do not know how long it will take to remove the apprehensions," says, Abdul Kader, a hawker.

The Shrine of Basilica, which would teem with pilgrims, now attracts few visitors. A large number thronged the shrine during weekends. During weekdays the town attracted a good number of people, keeping the traders busy.

Now the entire complex, including the tonsure hall, and the shrine counters remain almost empty.

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