Sea erosion leads to damage of boats, complain fishermen

According to them, their boats were being damaged constantly by the tidal waves after the immersion of idols following Vinayaka Chathurthi.

Ahead of idol immersion, large rocks were dumped near the sea, which began moving in the northern direction immediately after the immersion. This resulted in increased erosion and many boats were damaged as a result, said the fishermen here.

They have submitted a petition to the MLA and also urged the government to put up jetties soon. “If the officials fail to put jetties in the next five months, the coastal villages will vanish. Three years ago, due to sea erosion near Ennore shore, entire villages were washed away because the officials failed to build jetties,” said Sasi Kumar, president of an association representing coastal villagers.

With more than 600 families residing near the sea, the fishermen want immediate action by the authorities to save these coastal villages. “Every time we pull in the boat, there is some damage to them. We have to spend as much as Rs 4,000 out of our own pockets to repair them. With diminishing income from fishing, this is making our life more miserable,” said Shankar K, a fisherman.

However, if there are jetties, the problem of erosionwould only be transferred to the next village. “The problem is lack of sand, but instead they are dumping rocks. There is no permanent solution for such problem,” said Nitiyanand Jayaraman, an environment activist.

Speaking to DT Next, a Fisheries Department official said,“We have to discuss with anti-sea erosion wing of the PWD whether they are taking up the project. Or else we will take it up. Then we must move the proposal and get a financial sanction, because this is not a small work – it would cost as much as Rs 10 to Rs 15 crore or even more.”