Chief Minister V. Narayanasamy on Monday laid the foundation stone for the construction of work shelters under the tsunami rehabilitation programme in the coastal villages of Karaikal.
The Project Implementation Agency would build the shelters at Mandapathur, Kalikuppam, Akkampettai, Kottucherrymedu, Keezhakasakudimedu and Kilinjalmedu.
Once the facility is provided, fishermen can lock their boats, engines and nets in the allocated space inside the shelter.
A secure place
It had become necessary to provide a secure place for the fishermen to keep the equipment as new settlements constructed as part of tsunami rehabilitation programme were away from the shore, he said. The shelters were being built under the Coastal Disaster Risk Reduction project funded by the World Bank. The facility, coming up at an estimated cost of ₹20 crore, would be opened to the public by next year, said an official with PIA. The PIA had built 12 shelters in the coastal villages of Puducherry.
The work shelters are part of a comprehensive plan prepared by the government to improve the livelihood means and safety of fishermen.
Others who attended the function included Minister for Public Works A. Namassivayam, Minister for Transport M.O.H.F. Shahjahan and Minister for Fisheries Malladi Krishna Rao.
