Now Reading: TN fishermen seek thorough dredging of Pamban canal
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TN fishermen seek thorough dredging of Pamban canal
Fishermen in Pamban have urged the district administration and port department to ensure thorough dredging of the Pamban canal, alleging that sandbars continue to obstruct stretches used by mechanised boats and have damaged over 10 boat propeller wings in a month.
Following repeated demands, the Tamil Nadu Maritime Board awarded a Rs 9.5 crore private contract to remove accumulated sand and deepen the 3,500-metre stretch. Around 500 metres has been completed, but fishermen say several dunes remain in the channel.
The 2-km canal beneath the Pamban bridges connects the Gulf of Mannar and Palk Strait, with a maximum depth of 2.11 metres. Fishermen claim sediment has reduced depth below two metres at several points. A senior official said the petition has been forwarded to higher officials for consideration.
Indian Opinion Analysis
The Pamban canal is the only navigable link between India's east and west coasts for small vessels, and its silting has been a decades-old complaint from the fishing community. With the new Pamban rail bridge nearing completion, dredging becomes critical for boat traffic that will shift to the new channel. The Rs 9.5 crore contract covers only 3,500 metres, but the canal's full length under both bridges is about 2 km, the gap between what is contracted and what is needed is the real friction point. Fishermen's use of GPS data suggests they have precise coordinates of submerged sandbars that the dredging contractor may be avoiding. The next step is whether the state maritime board will issue a supplementary work order for the additional spots identified.
Source: newindianexpress.com
This story was synthesised by AI from the source linked above. Methodology and corrections.
