more-in Work on the construction of a fishing harbour at Poompuhar, which suffered a setback due to various reasons, including the impact of the North-East monsoon in 2015, has resumed and is being implemented in full swing. It was a long-felt need of the fishermen and it will cater to the anchoring needs of fishermen of 18 villages in and around Poompuhar. “Presently, fishermen from Vanagiri, Tirumullaivasal, Chinnangudi, Tranquebar, Pudhukuppam, Madathukuppam, and Naickankuppam, have been anchoring their boats at Poraiyar. But, the harbour will help them to land at Poompuhar without any hitch,” an official source told The Hindu on Sunday. As many as 350 mechanised boats will be anchored at the harbour. A full-fledged infrastructure will be provided on the sprawling 16.5 hectares where the harbour would be set up. It would have net mending centre, auction yard, toilet blocks for men and women, administrative office block, etc. The work, announced by late Chief Minister Jayalalithaa under Rule 110 on the floor of the Assembly, is being executed at an estimate of ?148 crore, shared by the Union and State government. Originally, the project was estimated to cost ?78.5 crore. However, it was revised to commensurate with the change in techniques and designs. “The rise in project cost indicates the work involved in changing the direction of the currents,” the source said. “We need a large area for anchoring boats. Hence the project is primarily aimed at diverting backwaters towards the northern side of Poompuhar,” the source said. The project involves construction of a main break wall to a length of 1,100 metres, leeward break wall to a length of 390 metres, and diaphragm wall to a length of 480 metres. “The diaphragm wall comprises two components — one along the shore to a length of 440 metres and the other on the reverse for a length of 20 metres each on two sides — so that the total length of the diaphragm wall is 480 metres,” the source added. The direction of the current was first diverted from Poompuhar to Cuddalore port by putting tetrapods. “We shall be setting up hundreds of tetrapods each weighing anywhere between 2 tonnes and 10 tonnes depending on its size,” the official said. The tetrapods have been placed to dissipate waves. At deeper areas, tetrapods weighing 10 tonnes would be used and in other zones, pods with lesser weight would be used.

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