DISTRICT SURVEY REPORT FOR SAND

THOOTHUKUDI DISTRICT

1 District Survey Report –

INDEX

Chapter Content Page No.

1. Introduction. 1

2. Overview of Mining Activity in the District. 1

3. List of Sand Mining Leases in the District. 5

4. Details of Revenue received in last three years. 5

5. Details of Production of Sand in last three years. 5

Process of Deposition of Sediments in the rivers of the

6. District 6

7. General Profile of the District. 9

Land Utilisation Pattern in the District: Forest,

8. Agricultural, Horticultural, Mining etc. 14

9. Physiography of the District 15

10. Climate and Rainfall of the District. 15

11. Geology and Mineral wealth of Thoothukudi District. 17

12. Drainage system with description of main rivers 20

13. Salient Features of important Rivers and Streams 21

14. Mineral Potential 22

2 District Survey Report – Thoothukudi District DISTRICT SURVEY REPORT FOR SAND THOOTHUKUDI DISTRICT

1. Introduction: In conjunction to the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, the Government of Notification No.SO 141 (E) dated 15.01.2016 and SO 190 (E) dated 20.01.2016 the District Level Environment Impact Assessment Authority (DEIAA) and District Environment Appraisal Committee (DEAC) were constituted in Thoothukudi District for the grant of Environmental Clearance for category “B2” projects for quarrying of Minor Minerals. The main purpose of preparation of District Survey Report is to identify the mineral resources and develop the mining activities along with relevant current geological data of the District. The DEAC will scrutinize and screen scope of the category “B2” projects and the DEIAA will grant Environmental Clearance based on the recommendations of the DEAC for the Minor Minerals on the basis of District Survey Report. This District Mineral Survey Report is prepared on the basis of field work carried out in Thoothukudi district by the official from Geological Survey of India and Directorate of Geology and Mining, (Thoothukudi District), Govt. of Tamilnadu.

2. Overview of Mining Activity: Public Works Department, pioneer in all branch of engineering, is the custodian of Odai, Canal, Rivers and Water bodies in the State. Public Works Department creates, Maintains and protects all irrigation systems including the rivers. Periodical maintenance including desilting of the drains/river is carried out to maintain the functional efficiency including the carrying capacity of the river. But in rivers flood protection works are carried out by increasing top level of bund and protecting the sides of bund with revetment. The desilting was never carried out in river due to the cost constraints. Therefore, prolonged siltation for decades and more, the level of the floor of riverbed has increased and reduced the carrying capacity. Whenever floods and consequent damages occurred, it was resorted to increase the bund level to restore the carrying capacity of river. It was never thought of desilting the river due to the enormous cost, and there is problem in disposing the desilted sand. Consequence of this change in river regime and reduction in carrying capacity of the Thamirabarani River, the shoals in the rivers, divert the flow of water resulting in bund erosion and consequent breaches, which lead to loss of property and lives. 3 District Survey Report – Thoothukudi District Solution to the above problem is to desilt the shoals in the Thamirabarani River by expending huge amount. Alternatively, the economical solution to this problem is to mine the sand to remove the shoals. This option would yield net revenue to the state exchequer apart from making available the important construction material for infrastructure development at a reasonable price to the common people.

The quarrying of sand in Government Poramboke lands and private patta lands had been entrusted to private agencies by the Revenue Department after concluding a lease agreement with them. The process was in practice up to August 2002.

As per G.O.No. 46/Industries (MMC.1) Department, dated 25.09.2002, a high level committee had been constituted to conduct a survey of rivers and river beds in the state with reference to sand quarry. The high level committee concluded that,

a) Even through several rules on sand mining exist, illegal quarrying of sand in out of control. Authority for regulating sand mining is vested with different organization such as, State Geology and Mining Department, Revenue Department and Public Works Departments. Hence, implementation and monitoring of rules and regulation regarding sand quarrying are not effective. The important task of sand mining therefore, should be entrusted to a SINGLE AGENCY.

The Government issued an order vide G.O. Ms.No. 95, Industries (MMC.1) Department , dated. 01.10.2003 to operate sand quarries in Tamil Nadu by Public Works Department. Accordingly, Sand quarrying operations are being carried out from October 2003 in District of the Tamil Nadu.

Based on the above instructions, the concerned Executive Engineers with their field staff will identify the quarry site considering the availability of sand deposits and sand humps, approach to the site, existing infrastructures, water head works, cross masonry works etc. After selecting the site, proposals will be sent to the concerned District Collectors.

The sand mining activity is not carried out by the Public Works Department for the past two years in the district.

4 District Survey Report – Thoothukudi District

3.List of Sand Mining Leases in the District.

Sl. Taluk/Division Village S.F.No. & River Collector’s Lease Bullock No Extent in Hects Name Proceedings Period Cart/Lorry No & Date

NIL

4.Details of Revenue received in last three years.

Sl. Name of the Quarry Quantity of sand Rate Per Load in Total No Quarried in Loads Rupees Royalty/Revenue in (Unit) Rupees

NIL

5.Details of Production of Sand in last three years.

Sl. No Name of sand Taluk Name of river Period of Quantity of sand Quarry product Quarried in Loads

NIL

5 District Survey Report – Thoothukudi District 6.Process of Deposition of Sediments in the rivers of the District River sediment refers to the mixture of mineral matters which are derived from the weathering and erosion of rocks present in the river bed. Breaking down of rocks by a geological agent, here it is a river (flow of water), is called erosion. The erosion of rocks occurs in many ways. Weathering is described as disintegration and decomposition of rocks due to change in physical and chemical conditions of the rock. Sediments are derived by these natural processes. Sediments are subsequently transported by water and/or by the force of gravity acting on the sediments. Sediments become the river’s load and the river transport this loads through its course. Transportation of the sediments depends on the energy of the river. Boulders are transported by traction and are rolled along the bed of the river. Slightly smaller particles, such as pebbles and gravel are transported by saltation. This is where the load bounces along the bed of the river because the river has enough energy to lift the particles off the bed but the particles are too heavy to travel by suspension. Fine particles like clay and silt are transported in suspension; they are suspended in the water. Most of a river’s load is transported by suspension. Solution is a special method of transportation. This is where particles are dissolved into the water so only rocks that are soluble, such as limestone or chalk, can be transported in solution. Deposition occurs when forces responsible for sediment transportation are no longer sufficient to overcome the forces of gravity and friction which are creating a resistance to motion. To transport load, a river needs to have energy at the same time when a river loses energy, it is forced to deposit its load. One of the following ways, a river could lose its energy:

1. Reduction in the discharge: Reduction in discharge may be due to lack of precipitation and evaporation and abstraction by human activity.

2. Change in the river gradient: If the gradient of the river’s course flattens out, the river will deposit its load because it will be travelling a lot slower. When a river meets the sea a river will deposit its load because the gradient is generally reduced at sea level and the sea will absorb a lot of energy.

6 District Survey Report – Thoothukudi District Much of the material will be carried in suspension and loads in suspension erode the river banks by abrasion. When rivers flow over flatter land, they form large bends called meanders. As a river goes around a bend, most of the water is pushed towards the outside causing increased erosion. The river is now eroding sideways into its banks rather than downwards into its bed, a process called lateral erosion (Plate 1. A & B). On the inside of the bend, in contrast, there is much less water. The river will therefore be shallow and slow flowing. It cannot carry as much material and so sand and gravels will be deposited. This is called a point bar or slip off slope. Due to erosion on the outside of a bend and deposition on the inside, the shape of a meander will change over a period of time. Eventually deposition will block off the old meander to leave an oxbow lake. The oxbow lake will slowly dry up, only refilling after heavy rain or during a flood.

In Thoothukudi District Thamirabarani River, Vaippar River, and their tributaries are draining and passing through the District. The Thamirabarani river is perennial in nature.

7 District Survey Report – Thoothukudi District

Thoothukudi District River map

8 District Survey Report – Thoothukudi District 7. General Profile of the District:

The etymology of the word “Thoothukudi” can be traced back to the period when the locals used to tap drinking water by digging small ponds (oothu in Tamil). Oothukudi, meaning to dig and drink, later came to be known as Thoothukudi. The district has a long and an illustrious history dating back to the Pandyan era. In the tenth century A.D. the region was conquered by the Cholas and re-conquered by the Pandyan kings. Subsequently, Thoothukudi was ruled by Madurai Nayaks, the Portuguese, the Dutch and finally the English. The English ruled Thoothukudi, which was a part of District, till India’s Independence. It lies between 8019’00” N Latitude and 78040’00” E Longitude. Thoothukudi district was carved out of the erstwhile Tirunelveli district on October 20, 1986. Thoothukudi was a major natural pearl fishing center till last century. It has one of the oldest ports in the world. The lighthouse built in 1842 marked the beginning of Thoothukudi’s harbour development. India independence struggle has strong links with Thoothukudi. Notable freedom fighters like Subramaniya Bharathi, V.O.Chidambaram Pillai, Vanchinathan and Veerapandia Kattabomman hailed from Thoothukudi. The district has also been the headquarters of prominent missionaries like G.U.Pope, Veeramamunivar and Caldwell, who besides their missionary work, also contributed to the development of and literature. Thoothukudi was established as a Municipality in 1866 and on August 5, 2008 attained the status of Corporation after 142 years. The minor port of the Thoothukudi anchorage port with lighter age facilities has had flourished traffic for over a century. The first wooden jetty of this port was commissioned in 1864. This port was being used for export of salt, cotton yarn, senna leaves, palmyrah stalks, palmyrah fibres, dry fish, country drugs etc. to neighboring countries and for import of coal, cotton, copra, pulses and grains. The minor port of the Thoothukudi handled the distinction of being intermediate port handling the highest traffic tonnage of over 1 million per annum. Thoothukudi District is located in the extreme south-eastern corner of Tamil Nadu State, between 8019’00” N Latitude and 78040’00” E. The District is bounded on the North by Virudhunagar and Ramanathapuram district, by Bay of Bengal in the East, Tirunelveli District in the West and South West. 9 District Survey Report – Thoothukudi District LOCATION PLAN 10 District Survey Report – Thoothukudi District

7.1 ADMINISTRATIVE

District Abstract

1. Area : 4621 Sq.Kms

2. No.of Revenue Divisions 3 - Thoothukudi ,

: and

Thiruchendur

3. No.of Taluks : 8

4. No.of Revenue Villages : 480 5. No.of Panchayat Unions : 12 6. No.of Village Panchayats : 403 7. No.of Town Panchayats : 19

8. No.of Municipalities : 2

9. No.of Corporation : 1

Administrative details

The perennial river Tamiraparani flows almost in the southern side of the district and feeds the entire district population. Thoothukudi district has consist of eight taluks such as Thoothukudi, Srivaikundam, Kovilpatti, , Vilathikulam, Ottapidaram, Thiruchendur and ) with total population of 17,50,176 (as per 2011 census).

11 District Survey Report – Thoothukudi District

7.2 ADMINISTRATIVE BLOCKS The district is divided into 12 blocks for rural and urban development. The 12 blocks are:

1. Tuticorin, 2. Thiruchendur, 3. Udangudi, 4. Sathankulam, 5. Srivaikundam, 6. Alwarthirunagari, 7. Karunkulam, 8. Ottapidaram, 9. Kovilpatti, 10. Kayathar, 11. Vilathikulam, and 12. Pudur.

12 District Survey Report – Thoothukudi District THOOTHUKUDI DISTRICT ADMINISTRATIVE BOUNDARY THOOTHUKUDI DISTRICT MAP SHOWING IMPORTANT TOWNS AND ROAD CONNECTIVITY.

13 District Survey Report – Thoothukudi District 7.3 POPULATION: As per 2011 census the total population of the District is 17, 38,376 (Male- 8, 58,890, Female – 8, 79, 457, others-29). Rural population of the district is 8, 67,122 and Urban population is 8, 71,254. The district with population density of 338 sq.km is thickly populated thus making it more vulnerable to various disasters. As per 1991 As per 2001 As per 2011 Census Census Census Total Population 1455920 1565743 1738376 Male Population 709760 764087 858890 Female Population 746160 801656 879457 Others -- -- 29 Rural Population 856229 903811 867122 Urban Population 599691 661932 871254 Total list of the Populations

8. LAND UTILISATION PROFILE OF THE DISTRICT Year 2016-17

Area S.No Types of Soil (in Hectares)

1 Forest 11012

2 Barren and Uncultivable uses 19878

3 Land put to Non-agricultural uses 76483

4 Cultivable Waste Land 42305

5 Permanent Pastures and Other Grazing Land 5132

Land Under Miscellaneous Tree Crops and Grasses not included 36139 6 in Net Area Sown

7 Current Fallows 16411

8 Other Fallows Land 64215

9 Net Area Sown 199149

10 Geographical Area According to Village Papers 470724

Source: ‘G’ Return -2016-2017 Land Utilisation Profile

14 District Survey Report – Thoothukudi District Source: ‘G’ Return -2016-2017 LAND UTILIZATION 9. PHYSIOGRAPHY Thoothukudi district is one of the coastal district of Tamilnadu. In general the study area is an undulating topography with general slope towards east .The drainage network in the district is constituted by the rivers originating in Western Ghats and Tamilnadu uplands and flowing towards the Bay of Bengal. Few streams originate in the hillocks within the district and confluences directly with the sea. Vaippar (Vilathikulam Takuk) and Karumeniyar () are the major rivers draining the area which are ephemeral in nature. Tamiraparani is the major and perennial river in the district with a mature stage of development. 10. CLIMATE and RAINFALL The District which situate on the east coast has the typical climate with high humidity and relatively lower to moderate temperatures throughout the year. The annual mean minimum and maximum temperatures are 23.780 and 33.950C respectively. At an average temperature of 31.6 °C, May is the hottest month of the year. In January, the average temperature is 26.5°C.The rainfall occurs mostly in the months of October, November and December. During the period from October to January the climate remains relatively cooler. From February, the early summer sets in and the months of April, May, June, July and August are hot months. 15 District Survey Report – Thoothukudi District The district receives the rain under the under the influence of both southwest and northeast monsoons. The northeast monsoon chiefly contributes to the rainfall in the district. Most of the precipitation occurs in the form of cyclonic storms caused due to the depressions in Bay of Bengal. Precipitation is the lowest in August, with an average of 3 mm. Most precipitation falls in November, with an average of 238 mm.

Deviation (+ or South West Hot Weather – Sl.No Year North East Monsoon Winter Season Total% Monsoon Season or =) from Normal

Normal Actual Normal Actual Normal Actual Normal Actual Norma Actual

1 2004 86.8 151.1 410.1 551.4 46.6 61.5 112.2 171.1 665.7 935.1 +42.6 -2005 2005 86.8 48.4 410.1 453.6 46.6 36.1 112.2 139.9 665.7 678.0 +3.4 2 -2006 3 2006 86.8 62.0 410.1 670.6 46.6 40.2 112.2 64.4 665.7 837.2 +27.7 -2007 4 2007 86.8 101.7 410.1 370.4 46.6 94.9 112.2 323.9 655.7 890.9 +35.8 -2008 5 2008 86.8 65.7 410.1 584.1 46.6 7.0 112.2 113.3 655.7 770.1 +17.45 -2009 6 2009 86.8 54.5 410.1 490.5 46.6 23.3 112.2 66.4 655.7 634.7 -3.20 -2010 7 2010 86.8 109.5 410.1 523.5 42.8 13.7 111.6 46.0 651.3 692.7 +64 -2011 8 2011 30.3 427.0 550.9 42.8 16.2 111.6 72.8 656.3 670.2 2.1 74.9 -2012 9 2012 74.9 0.4 427.0 330.4 42.8 45.5 111.6 49.9 656.3 426.2 -35 -2013 10 2013 74.9 13.8 427.0 301.6 42.8 31.4 111.6 159.4 656.3 506.2 -22.9 -2014 11 2014 74.9 51.9 427.0 585.6 42.8 9.6 111.6 143.1 656.3 790.2 20.4 -2015 12 2015 74.9 60.0 427.0 664.3 42.8 3.4 111.6 49.5 656.3 777.2 18.4 -2016 152. 6 13 2016 74.9 18 427.0 42.8 14.7 111.6 32.2 656.3 217.4 -66.9

-2017

Source: Department ofEconomics and Statistics, Chennai.-6Table Comparative Statement of monthly Rainfall data in Thoothukudi district in mm (Source: http://www.thoothukudi.tn.nic.in 2017)

16 District Survey Report – Thoothukudi District The southwest monsoon rainfall is highly erratic and summer rains are negligible. It is the minimum around Arasadi (577.4 mm) and Thoothukkudi (582.8 mm) in the central eastern part of the district. It gradually increases towards south, west and north and attains a maximum around Kayathar (722.5 mm) and Kovilpatti (734.8 mm) in the northwestern part. The annual rainfall normal (1970-2000) of Thoothukudi district is 655mm.Projections of rainfall over Thoothukudi for the periods 2010-2040 (2020s), 2040- 2070 (2050s) and 2070-2100 (2080s) with reference to the baseline (1970-2000) indicate an increase of 2.0%, 8.0% and 10.0% respectively.

11. GEOLOGY OF THOOTHUKUDI DISTRICT:

Thoothukudi district represents a well-developed lithopackage of meta- sedimentary sequence inter banded with charnockite Group of rocks. The rock types exposed are of quartzite, calc-granulite, garnet-biotite-sillimanite gneiss, garnet quartzo- feldspathic gneiss and garnet-biotite-cordierite gneiss belonging to Khondalite Group of rock. Charnockite and pyroxene Granulite are the Charnockite Group. Hornblende-biotite gneiss belongs to Migmatitic Complex. Besides, basic intrusive (pyroxenite) and acid intrusive (granite) are noticed. The younger intrusive are represented by pegmatite and quartz veins. Evidence of development of incipient / patchy charnockite along the shear plane is noticed in the district along the Western Ghat high hills.

Rock type found in the area belong to the Khondalite and Charnockite groups and Migmatite Complex of Easter Ghats Super group (Archaean Age),which are unconformably overlain by Tertiary and Quaternary sediments.Garnet-biotie-sillimanite gneiss, quartzite, calc-granulite and limestone of Khondalite group with epidiorite occurring as narrow linear bands.Charnockite group is represented by acid variants. These rock types occur as xenoliths within the Migmatite Complex occupies a major part of the area,comprising medium grained hornblende-biotite gneiss and garnet-biotitegneiss.Gypsum, limestone, beach sand, kankar and shell limestone are the Economic minerals of the district. Hard Rocks - 73% Sedimentary Rocks - 27%

17 District Survey Report – Thoothukudi District

Crystalline Limestone, Multi color dimension stone, rough stone/gravel, garnet and ilmenite sand are notable economic importance minerals of found in Thoothukudi District. Minor occurrences of Quartzite are also reported in the district. Mining activities based on rough stone (mostly charnockite) are majorly concentrated in Thoothukudi, Kovilpatti, Ettayapuram, Sathankulam, Ottapidaram Taluks in the district under operation for production of construction materials and earth fill as gravel.

Quaternary Holocence to Recent Alluvium Red Soil Colluvium Coastal Sand Clay River Alluvium Laterite Red Teri Kankar Tuffaceous Kankar Shell LimeStone Calcareous Sandstone Tertiary Mio-Pliocence Panamparai Hard,Compact, Sandstone Calcareous Sandstone Shell Limestone Proterozoic Precambrian Crystalline Charnockite Complex Mixed Composite Gneiss Peliticgneiss Calc-Granulite Quarzite

Period Age Formation Lithology

18 District Survey Report – Thoothukudi District

THOOTHUKUDI DISTRICT GEOLOGY MAP

19 District Survey Report – Thoothukudi District 11.1 GEOMORPHOLOGY The area is undulating country, slopping towards the sea coast with sand dune sand the back swamps. The Coastal tracts have recent dunes of white and red ”teri” sand. The general drainage pattern is co-linear. Tamirabarani and vaippar rivers with their distributaries constitute the natural drainage. The prominent geomorphic units identified in the district are 1) Fluvial, 2) Marine, 3) Fluvio-marine, 4) Aeolian and 5) Erosional landforms depending on the environment of formation. Taruvaikulam- Tuticorin surface, Kulattur surface Vaippar surface, Nagalapuram-Vedanattham surface and Volinokkam- Vembar surface are some of the erosional geomorphic units in the northern part of the district. Karumeniyar surface, Tamirabarani surface, -Kayalpattinam surface and Vallanadu surface are the geomorphic units in the southern part of the district. The number of red sandy tracts formed of the sand dunes locally known as Teri sand complex are the important feature in the coast. These Teri sands extend in width from 6 to 8 km from the coast. Adaippanvilai Teri, Kudiraimozhi teri and Vaippar-Vembar Teri are some of the important Teri areas, which are having elevation in the range of 15 to 62m above MSL.

12. Drainage System with description of main rivers:

Sl.No. Name of the River Area drained(Sq.km) % Area drained in the District

1 Thamirabarani 4621 20%

2. Vaippar 5288 25%

20 District Survey Report – Thoothukudi District

13. Salient Features of Important Rivers and Streams:

Total Length in Name of the River Altitude at Sl.No. the District (in Place of Origin (or) Stream Origin Km) Thamirabarani 1725 m above 1 43 Pothigai malai, Thirunelveli District River MSL 167 m above 2 Vaippar River 48 Varusanadu Hills,Kerala state MSL 3 Karumeniyar 30 Vijayanarayanan Tank,Tirunelveli 51m above MSL

Mineable Average width of Portion of the Length of Area Area mineral Area River or Stream Recommended Recommended potential(in Recommended for Sl. No. Recommended for Mineral for Mineral metric tonne) Mineral for Mineral Concession (in Concession (in (60% of total Concession(in Concession Kilometer) square meter) mineral meters) potential) 1 Thamirabarani 5km 500m 250000 94333 2 Vaippar 15km 500m 750000 283000

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22 District Survey Report – Thoothukudi District