Thoothukudi
To protect the shore of Periyathalai, a coastal village, from erosion, groynes will be constructed in shallow waters off Periyathalai coast.
An IIT team has already conducted a feasibility study to build groynes and a couple of days ago, modifications to the already planned project were also proposed for the construction. The project estimation preparation report is likely to be received in a day or two and all necessary details will be forwarded to State government for swift action, according to Collector N. Venkatesh.
The facility will provide much relief to fisherfolks of this village, where the shoreline is prone to erosion. Earlier, the construction project was designed as a harbour-like structure, but it did not take off, the Collector told The Hindu here on Monday.
As predicted by the Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS), sea turned rough off Periyathalai on Sunday evening and high tide pushed seawater unusually beyond the shoreline and the surge eroded the beach. The Periyathalai beach experienced high tide at four to five feet high, but no damage has been caused to any house or boat.
Joint Director of Fisheries R.Amal Xavier said around 350 inmates of houses close to shoreline were evacuated to safer place and accommodated on Sunday night as safety precautionary measure. However, they were back home on Monday morning.
As for Kanniyakumari Collector, Prashant M. Wadnere, sea could be rough till 11.30 p.m. on Monday as predicted by the INCOIS forecast issued on Friday. The district administration is on alert and with deputation of six inter-departmental zonal teams headed by deputy collectors, the situation is being monitored keenly.
As many as 330 people from houses near the shoreline were moved to six temporary relief camps in Vallavilai, Kanyakumari, Pillaithoppu and Marthandampudur. The high tide that caused flooding on Saturday evening damaged four houses in localities of Vallavilai, Thengapattanam and Neerodi.
The officials had been checking whether any other damage occurred in other places. Besides, four boats moored along the shore suffered minor damage, the Collector said.
