A tourism promotion project that focuses on creating boating facilities will go a long way in ensuring better opportunities for fisherfolk and draw tourists to the Pulicat lake in Tiruvallur district.
Apart from the flamingoes and the unique aquatic life, a pristine beach, the lighthouse, a sundial, a church and a mosque beckon tourists on the weekends.
Neighbouring Andhra Pradesh, inside which a major portion of the lake falls, organises an annual flamingo festival to celebrate the migratory birds, sells memorabilia about the lake and has a hotel and a restaurant near the lake for tourists and bird watchers. However, in Tamil Nadu, the lake is treated only as a fishing area.
Sources in the Tourism Department said that the old lighthouse sees regular visitors. “On an average, around 500 persons visit the lighthouse every month. Bird watchers and the general public camp out to see the greater flamingoes that are the main attraction during September-March. The department has provided toilet facilities near the hospital and bus stand,” explained an official.
Visitors like to go on boat rides inside the lake and also into the sea.
“There are times when guests want to camp out on islands inside the lake and consume the fresh catch of prawns and crabs from the lake. But pleasure boating has been banned due to a few accidents. We have been demanding that pleasure boating be allowed. We have also provided assurances that we will take precautions to ensure the safety of tourists. But nothing has moved in that direction,” said Durai Mahendran, Tiruvallur Maavatta Parambariya Aikiya Meenava Sangam.
Boost to fishermen
Restarting pleasure boating could help inland fishermen when there is not much fishing in the lake.
“There is not much fishing due to the silting up. Also, the paadu system is followed properly so that everyone gets a chance. We also have issues with fishermen from Andhra Pradesh, who want to fish in our waters when the water level in their portion of the lake gets very low,” said Karunakaran of Light House Kuppam.
