Despite high potential for tourism, Tiruchendur, a famous temple town in south Tamil Nadu, remains underdeveloped.
Tiruchendur, the second abode of Lord Muruga, is a pilgrimage centre. Despite increased flow of devotees, Tiruchendur is plagued by want of facilities.
Thoothukudi-Tiruchendur Road is in a very bad shape. Having key tourist destinations such as Tiruchendur, Kulasekarapattinam and Manapad, this constituency could have witnessed a staggering growth of tourism. The local populace felt that there were possibilities of creating a tourism circuit linking these destinations. But there was no headway at all over the last five years.
The much-talked about super-critical thermal power project with a capacity of 1,600 megawatt (2x800) at Udangudi remains a non-starter.
The TNEB-BHEL collaboration project was proposed and planned by the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam government in 2009, and the bhoomi pooja was performed. Around 1,000 acres of land for establishing the project was also acquired.
Further, bids were opened for bringing up a captive port at Manapad to handle coal for the proposed power project. The local populace of this constituency looked forward to these developments to tackle unemployment problem, but still it remains a dream for them.
Traditional agriculture, which remained a pillar of the local economy, also witnessed a declining trend owing to lack of water resources.
Kannadiyan Channel project, which envisaged interlinking of rivers in the south, did not materialise. The 72-km-long channel project to take the surplus water of the Tamirabharani to Karumaeniyar and Nambiyar was designed on an outlay of Rs. 369 crore. The project was launched by the DMK government, and there was no progress on that after the AIADMK returned to power.
The project was aimed at promoting crop irrigation on 25,000 acres in 15 villages around Tiruchendur. Groundwater resource would also have improved had the project been completed.
Due to political competition between these Dravidian parties, people had been suffering, A. Rajamarthandam, president, Farmers Association of Thoothukudi South, told The Hindu.
In Tiruchendur town panchayat, underground drainage work remains incomplete, but the State government hastily declared it open. Not even a single house got connected to the facility.
This constituency now witnesses a face-off between DMK’s Anitha R. Radhakrishnan, the sitting and three-time MLA of Tiruchendur, and R. Sarathkumar, sitting MLA of Tenkasi and founder president of All India Samathuva Makkal Katchi (AISMK), who is contesting on an AIADMK ticket.
Confident of his victory, Mr. Radhakrishnan said that he would strive for the establishment of the second rocket launch site at Kulasekarapattinam as demanded by DMK chief Karunanidhi.
Mr. Sarathkumar said that there was a lot of scope for promotion of tourism with Tiruchendur as a hub. Recreation spots such as sea parks could be established. Once tourism got a boost, it would create vast trade opportunities. Job opportunities would be created for the youth. “I have come here to perform and when I take up a job I will do it,” Mr. Sarathkumar said.
Efforts would be made to build groynes at Manapad, set up a bio-gas plant at Kayalpattinam and cold storage facilities to preserve seafood.
He said that he would facilitate value addition to palm products to boost export trade, take steps to remove water hyacinth from waterbodies, and upgrade the government hospital at Kayalpattinam. He would also urge the Centre to connect Tiruchendur and Kanyakumari by rail, he said.
