THOOTHUKUDI: Following heavy rainfalls spread across the last few months, rainwater from urban Thoothukudi has been flowing through the salt pans in the Kaalavasal region to reach the sea. However, the passing rainwater is yet to recede and has stagnated in the pans, pausing salt production.
Devastating visuals of waterlogging across several areas of the district highlight the downsides of the rains and underscore the difficulties they cause for locals.
Salt production is the primary occupation in the Kaalavasal area, a suburban region of Thoothukudi. Hundreds of families depend entirely on these salt pans for their livelihood. Salt pan workers state that it will take at least three months for the rainwater to drain and for the salt pans to become operational again. As a result, salt production has been severely hit over the past three months, leaving more than 500 families without a livelihood.
On the flip side, earlier, due to heavy rainfall in the region, the salt pans in Thoothukudi began resembling water bodies, becoming a haven for various species of birds, and several small fish, insects, and other aquatic organisms has increased significantly. Such sightings of water birds feeding in large numbers in salt pans are rare. However, the conditions created by this year's heavy rainfall transformed the area into a favourable habitat for birds.
Over the past few months, Thoothukudi has also been seeing large flocks of Rosy Starling birds. According to Ornithologists, these birds arrive in southern districts as part of their winter migration from Northwest Asia and Eastern Europe. The stark contrast between visuals from the past month and those from today underscores the unprecedented nature of the rainfall, especially in a region known for its captivating beauty.