Seawater entered eight villages along the coast from Mullurthurai to Eraiyumanthurai on Saturday night, officials attached to the Fisheries and Revenue department said here on Sunday.
Water entered Eraiyumanthurai, Thoothurthurai, Thoothur, Chinnathurai, Vallanvilai, Marthndamthurai, Eraviputhanthurai and Neerodithurai.
Fr. Churchil, Secretary, South Asian Fishermen Federation (SAFF) told The Hindu that four houses in Chinnathurai and two houses in Eraiyumanthurai villages were damaged and the affected families were shifted to a nearby church. A 78-year-old L. Esaac was injured in the collapse of tiled roof. He was admitted to a private hospital in Thoothur.
Though sea erosion was a recurring problem in the seashore villages, the government failed to construct groynes along the coastal villages.
Several petitions were submitted to the Collector, government and series of agitations by the fishermen.
When over 60 houses were submerged in the last two years, the affected families were either staying in rented houses and relatives houses. Agitations at the Chinnathurai junction and Collectorate did not yield any result, he said.
Rubble mound walls
PWD Executive Engineer for Anti-Sea Erosion A. Christhu Nesakumar told The Hindu that the department was planning to construct rubble mound sea walls (RMSW) at Vallanvilai and proposals had been sent to the government for construction of sea walls in vulnerable places.
A RS. 50 crore proposal under the Flood Management Scheme has been sent to the State government. The proposal has to get the clearance from the Central Water Commission, he adds.
Rehabilitation measures
Revenue and police officials rushed to the villages and were undertaking rehabilitation measures, official sources said.
‘Sea erosion is a recurring problem in the seashore villages’
