Construction of need-based anti-sea erosion walls or groynes with the consultation of stakeholders is the need of the hour, said Fr. Churchil, general secretary, South Asian Fishermen Fraternity (SAFF), here on Friday.
Addressing the monthly grievance meeting of fishermen held at the Collectorate, Fr. Churchil questioned whether the meeting was convened to hear mere grievances of fishermen or to redress them as well.
He said nearly 72 houses were damaged in Thoothur last year due to sea erosion. After construction of groynes/anti-sea erosion walls there, further damage was prevented. If the officials had taken Thoothur-like initiative in Erayumanthurai, Eraviputhenthurai, Melamanakkudi, Poothurai and Mel Midalam, the damage to the houses of fishermen could have been prevented in recent times.
Collector Sajjansingh R. Chavan intervened and said that the sea was rough usually between June and August.
Keeping this in mind, the anti-sea erosion wing of the Public Works Department had prepared a detailed proposal and sent it to the government two days back.
Officials of the revenue and fisheries departments had taken up a survey of houses in coastal villages damaged due to sea erosion.
Once the survey was over, the report would be sent to the government, which was expected to take a policy decision on that, Mr. Chavan also said.
S. Rubert Jothi, Assistant Director, Fisheries, said the department was taking all out efforts to maintain the present Rock Mount Structures walls in Thoothur at an estimated cost of Rs. 1.66 crore, Chinnathurai at Rs. 1.98 crore, Erayumanthurai at Rs. 3.09 crore, and Vallavilai at Rs. 4.56 crore.
Fr. Churcil wondered why the District Disaster Management Committee members did not inspect the damages to houses caused by seaerosion.
Unresponsive
Another fisherman, Berlin of Kurumbanai, was concerned over unresponsive toll-free number 1077 managed by the Disaster Management wing at the Collectorate.
The District Revenue Officer, S. Elango, Deputy Director of Fisheries Department Issac Jayaraj and others participated.
