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Port Department re-starts dredging of Ariankuppam river mouth

— Photo: T. Singaravelou

The dredger berthed at the Puducherry harbour to desilt sand.

PUDUCHERRY: The Port Department has re-started dredging of the Ariankuppam river mouth to desilt around 80,000 cubic metres of sand in an area of 40 to 80 metres.

Officials said that desilting was carried out using a dredger owned by the port. The dredger had been given to a private contractor to desilt the sand at the cost of Rs 1.15 crore.

Last year, the government entered into an agreement with Kerala State Maritime Development Corporation (KSMDC) to remove sand from the river mouth to help fishermen operate bigger vessels from the harbour. The KSMDC-owned shallow dredger, TSD SINDHURAJ, stopped the work after removing 80,000 cubic metres of sand.

The Central Water Power and Research Station had recommended removal of four lakh cubic metres of sand for the smooth berthing of bigger vessels at the harbour. After the ongoing operation to remove 80,000 cubic metres of sand, the Port Department would entrust the task to a private agency to remove the remaining sand as recommended by the Central Water Power and Research Station, a senior official said.

Owing to excessive accumulation of silt at the river mouth, fishing activity using bigger craft were carried out only at the time of high tide. Besides fishermen association, the Coast Guard had been demanding desilting of the river mouth to berth vessels.

Ever since the Coast Guard set up its station, it had been demanding removal of sand to berth patrol boats. Excessive accumulation of sand at the river mouth had come in the way of operating craft during emergency in the sea.

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