Come summer, unscheduled power trips and acute scarcity of water are two major bottlenecks for a group of potters at Alangadu, near Udhayamarthandapuram, on the Vedaranyam-Tiruthuraipoondi sector.
The potters contend that the current season has come as a boon for them in terms of sale of pots, jugs and culinary wares. Nevertheless, the erratic power situation is a major cause for worry.
R. Gopal, a potter, says the demand for his wares is so high that against a monthly sale of ₹5,000, he could net anywhere around ₹15,000.
“We are ideally located on East Coast Road linking Vedaranyam and Tiruthuraipoondi. There has been a sharp increase in the volume of heavy and light vehicles after conversion of the highway into East Coast Road segment.”
There are an estimated 25 families engaged in the business. Besides making pots using power-operated mechanical wheel, they also procure potterywares from adjoining villages.
“It is only the aged potters who are involved in the trade. The younger ones are making an exodus to urban and metro centres in search of jobs,” says another potter K. Raman.
Water being another major input, the community is also grappling with a serious shortage now. “We are adapting our work schedule according to the availability of power supply and water,” they say.
