A massive godown of the Tamil Nadu Civil Supplies Corporation (TNCSC) — constructed on a sprawling 60-acre complex at a cost of over ₹150 crore — has been damaged by Cyclone Gaja and rendered useless even before its inauguration.
Officials acknowledge that only complete reconstruction will make it useful for grain storage.
The roof and walls of the blue-coloured structures at Kovilpathu on the Nagapattinam-Kodiyakarai highway were fully destroyed despite being constructed after meticulous planning and soil testing. The capacity of the godown is one lakh tonnes of grains.
The Hindu had reported extensively about the warehouse project. The National Institute of Technology, Tiruchi, had extended consultancy service for the design and setting up of the godown.
Strategic location
The village was selected because of its strategic locality in the coastal zone in the central region. Officials had told The Hindu that it would be more convenient for mobilising and stocking the produce. While it could be used for storage during surplus production, the warehouse would facilitate timely supply during drought or floods to coastal and central areas.
The foundation pipes were coated with epoxy painting to prevent corrosion and ensure their utility for decades. Experts of the National Institute of Technology, Tiruchi, had also conducted studies and ascertained its quality periodically.
The Corporation had approached the Southern Railway with a plan to set up a new rail link between Kovilpatthu and Vedaranyam — the nearest railway station — to facilitate speedy movement of paddy.
