Even as the Idinthakarai fishermen's possessions have been protected from the rough sea to some extent by constructing a groyne, a small group of protruding rocks that surfaced suddenly on the hamlet's newly created seashore by nature is threatening the boats as they are being brought back to the sea for fishing.
After tsunami ravaged the coastline of Idinthakarai and the giant waves continued to threaten the livelihood of the fishermen of this hamlet, the government constructed a groyne in four parts here. Though the symmetrically laid granite stones protected the fibreglass boats and the nets, it has given birth to a ‘beach' with protruding rocks as the sea receded suddenly.
While receding at one point, ‘Vazhaithottam area' close to the groyne, the sea has started intruding into land at another area of St. Xavier's Church Street of Idinthakarai. “As long as the waves hit the shore, our fishermen can bring the boats back to the sea easily. At the same time, we are facing the threat of waves destroying our boats. As the sea receded after the groyne was established, the protruding rocks on the shore pose serious threat to our fibreglass boats, which have to be carried for about a distance with great difficulty. Hence, the government should take steps to remove the rocks threatening our boats,” said Navison Leon of Idinthakarai.
Public Works Department officials say that the protruding rocks would be shortly covered by sand and seawater as the season changes after June. “The windy season will certainly submerge rocks with sand and water so that the fishermen can bring their boats back to sea after everyday's fishing without much difficulty,” a senior PWD official said.
