The Dredging Corporation of India (DCI) has pressed into service a trailer suction hopper dredger in addition to its hi-tech cutter section dredger to deepen the outer channel near the Ariyankuppam breakwater for commencement of operation of the Puducherry port and also for the ongoing beach nourishment project.
The Government of Puducherry had awarded the contract to DCI to dredge 3.75 lakh cubic metres of sand and deposit it behind the Gandhi statue to restore the beaches in front of the town with funding from HUDCO. However, the dredging process was delayed as the DCI faced a number of challenges, including the sub-optimal functioning of the high-tech dredger.
Sources, on condition of anonymity, said that DCI was supposed to have dredged 1.5 lakh cubic metres of sand before June. However, the cutter suction dredger was facing technical problems in dredging the outer channel. The government is also keen to deepen the outer channel to enable commencement of port operations by the Chennai Port Trust.
Adopts rainbow method
“DCI has now engaged a trailer suction hopper dredger with a capacity of 5,500 cubic metres near the old pier. The trailing suction hopper dredger will also help nourish the beach and will be adopting the rainbow method of pumping sand of the beach restoration project. The dredged sand on the outer channel will be put into the hopper for pumping sand near the old pier,” M.V. Ramanamoorthy, Scientist, NIOT, told The Hindu .
The DCI will also be simultaneously pumping out sand through the pipelines laid till the old pier till natural nourishment of the beach begins. DCI has so far pumped 30,000 cubic metres of sand against 1.5 lakh cubic metres of sand till June.
“We are committed to restoring the Puducherry beach. The Chief Minister and Lt. Governor are also committed to the project and funds are coming from NIOT. The DCI has done a great strategy with scientific thought to ensure that both the requirements are met and the sand is not wasted but contributes to beach restoration,” Sunaina Mandeen of Pondycan said.
Artificial reef
Mr. Ramanamoorthy said work on construction of an offshore artificial reef had begun opposite the Chief Secretariat. The reef will be 125 metres long and 100 metres wide. It will comprise boulders and a steel caisson will be built in the sea on the submerged reef.
Once the steel caisson is completed it will be towed and lowered into the sea opposite the Chief Secretariat. The submerged structure will reduce wave activity and allow sand to freely move towards the north and prevent erosion along the coastline.
