Tamil Nadu - Nagercoil   

Committee visits coastal villages

Nagercoil: A five-member Coastal Erosion Protection Committee headed by Engineer-in-Chief of the Public Works Department Raman visited coastal villages in Kanyakumari district on Tuesday to study and implement anti-sea erosion techniques.

According to sources, the members interacted with fishermen in Kanyakumari, Rajakkamangalamthurai, Manakudi, Eraiammanthurai, Poothurai and Chinnathurai and recorded their views, suggestions and observations.

The team had also convened a review meeting at the Collectorate for the last two days, which was chaired by Mr. Raman. During the meeting, the observations made by elected representatives, members of various non-governmental organisations, parish officials and representatives of various fishermen organisations were recorded by the committee.

The team also inspected the vulnerable coastal stretches at Kanyakumari, Rajakkamanagalamthurai, Manakudi, Eraiammanthurai, Poothurai and Chinnathurai and also inspected the ongoing groin works at Periacadu at a total estimated cost of Rs.4.75 crore.

They also inspected some anti-erosion sea walls for relaying them.

The fishermen said that their lives and properties were under a threat always, owing to constant sea erosion and persistent high tidal waves during pre-monsoon months.

Noting that the fear psychosis of fishermen was evident after the tsunami strike, Director of Department of Earth Sciences Subramaniam said that the fisherfolk who had refused to move out of the first 1,000 meters from high tidal line were now willing to shift their dwellings further inland.

Necessary steps had already been taken to install early warning systems in all the coastal districts. The vulnerability reduction would be up to 80 per cent once the facilities were in place, as they would forewarn the fishermen of impending disasters such as tsunami and cyclones, said Mr. Subramaniam.

The panel would submit its report to the Government.

He said that the Centre had allotted Rs.50.2 crore to initiate anti-sea erosion measures in Kanyakumari district and in neighbouring coastal areas in Kerala.

Plans had already been drawn up to build groins and rubble mound sea walls for a 45-km coastal stretch. The other panel members included Superintending Engineer (PWD), Bala Subramanian, Executive Engineer (anti-sea erosion), Pascal Raj, and Hydrology and Hydraulics expert, Sundar of IIT, Chennai.

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Committee visits coastal villages

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