After a decade, desilting of entry channel to Thoothukudi fishing harbour is being carried out. The deposit of silt close to the channel often caused damage to propellers of boats. With the aid of earth movers, silt and sediments had been removed, sources said.
According to A. Sangu Pichaiya, Vice-President, Thoothukudi Mechanised Boat Owners’ Association, propellers of more than 100 boats suffered damage after crossing this channel in shore waters off the harbour.
Several boat owners were destined to incur huge expenditure to replace the damaged propellers. One of the four leaves of the propellers often broken and crew on board knew only after three or four hours at mid sea, he told The Hindu here on Wednesday.
On many occasions, the damaged boats turned immobile at sea and they had to be towed with the aid of other boats. It was not the only reason for propellers getting damaged, but also due to boulders getting dropped into sea accidentally from barges.
Besides incurring an expenditure of ₹50,000 for towing a damaged boat, the boat owner needs to shell out ₹1.30 lakh for replacing a propeller.
As for M. Dharmapitchai, president, Thoothukudi Mechanised Boat Fishermen Labourers’ Association, desilting was carried out before tsunami struck when DMK was in power. The draft in shore waters close to the channel became lower since the silt was not removed and resultantly most of the big boats touched the sea bottom.
Joint Director of Fisheries R. Amal Xavier said desilting was being done with funds from Thoothukudi Fishing Harbour Management Society.
