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Home , Chidambaram, Cuddalore district, Kollidam River, Mayiladuthurai, Mayiladuthurai block, Muthupet

NAGAPATTINAM DISTRICT

1 DISTRICT

1. Introduction

i) Geographical location of the district Revenue Divisions 2 Nagapattinam is a coastal district of situated on the eastern side of Taluks 8 Nagapattinam the district headquarter lie 4 326 km, south of the State capital, , 145 km from Trichy, This district lies south Panchayat Unions 11 of district and another part of the Town Panchayats 8 lies to the south of Karaikkal and Tiruvarur districts. Village Panchayats 434

Nagapattinam lies between Northern Villages 2508 Latitude 10.7906 degrees and 79.8428 degrees Eastern longitude. The district spreads over an area of 2,715.83 sq.km iii) Meteorological information

The average maximum temperature ii)Administrative profile 0 of the district as a whole is about 32 C and This district envelop 11 Panchayat the average minimum temperature is 24.6 0C. unions, 4 municipalities, 8 town Panchayats Dust storms, whirl winds and dusty winds on its development side 2 revenue divisions blow from various quarters towards the end and 523 revenue villages. of May. The Southwest winds sets in during April, it is the strongest in June and continues till September.

Northeast starts during the month of October and blow till January. Cyclonic storm with varying wind velocity affects once in 3 or 4 years during the months of November-December. The storms affect the plantation crop. During Southwest monsoon the air is calm and undisturbed. The Northeast monsoon which starts in October and ends in December contributes about 60% of the total annual rainfall. The southwest monsoon rains occur from June to September.

The average normal and actual rainfall is 265.2 and 250.6 mm respectively during south west monsoon while it is 908.8 and 969.2 mm respectively during north east monsoon during 2007-2008.

2 2. Resources availability the `Thaladi' has duration of five to six months from October - November to i) Land resources February-March. Third is the `Samba' (the Sandy coastal alluvium and black long-term) crop and has duration of almost soil types cover 88.71% and 6.58% six months from August to January. Other respectively in this district. The other soils cereal crops of the district are cumbu, ragi, in the district comprise 4.71%. The soil of maize, korra and varagu. The pulses grown the district is mostly alluvial but varies in the district are redgram, greengram and greatly in quality. The rich soil is found in blackgram. Other food crops are condiments the north and the south of the railway line and species, sugar crops, fruits edible oils between and crops (groundnuts, coconut and gingelly) Thiruthuraippundi. The saline soil is found and vegetables. Among the non-food crops, in the Tirutturaippundi and Nagapattinam cotton/fibre, non-edible oils crops (castor, taluks where the drainage is very defective. miger seeds, though in very small area) are the important ones. ii) Agriculture and horticulture

i) Forest resources One of the major economic activities of the district, agriculture contributes a There are 41 forest areas in the higher share of rice production in the State. Nagapattinam district constituting a total Important crops in the district include rice, area of 5,311.70 ha with 35 forest areas groundnut, pulses, gingelly, and falling under the Reserve Forest category cotton. with 5,037.21 ha and 6 under reserve land category with 274.49 ha Forestry activities Details of important crops in district in the district are being carried out by Sl. Wildlife Division, with Wildlife Warden as Name of the crop Area in ha No. the administrative head. The division 1 Rice 1,54,945 consists of 4 ranges with headquarters at 2 Sugar cane 8,824 Nagapattinam, Kodiakkarai, and 3 Cotton 650 . The basic responsibilities of the division include afforestation activities like 4 Groundnut 5,820 raising coastal shelterbelt, greenbelts, 5 Gingerly 2,950 restoration, wildlife management 6 Green gram 17,130 and attending to environmental issues The 7 Black gram 48,400 important forest and wildlife areas in the 8 Vegetables 746 division includes Wildlife 9 Coconut 3,116 sanctuary. The other important areas are,

This coastal district abounds in green paddy fields, tall coconut groves, vast 1. Vaduvoor gardens of mango and plantain and other 2. Udayamarthandapuram vegetations. Paddy is the main crop of this 3. Karaivetti bird sanctuarie district and it is grown three times in a year. The first crop is known as `Kuruvai' (the 4. Muthupet short-term crop) with duration of three and a half to four months from June-July to Tropical dry-evergreen forest covers October-November. The second crop called nearly 15 sq.km of Point Calimere Wildlife

3 sanctuary. The forests are mostly of the The forests of this division can be nature of scrubland that stands on low sand divided into two regions from the dunes located on the western half of the topography, and flora point of view; the sanctuary. Manilkara hexandra , locally alluvial regions or riverine land areas and called Palai is the most important evergreen the coastal regions. Riverine areas lie on the species of the sanctuary. banks of river and canal in the form of narrow strips. Teak plantations mostly In the sanctuary grasslands the dominant cover these areas, wherever the soil is graminoid is Aeluropus lagopoides followed unsuitable for Dalbergia sisso , Terminalia by Sporobulu tremulus and Cressa cretica. arjuna and Eucalyptus have been planted in The forest is home to 154 species of such areas. Although the soil is light and medicinal plants like Mucuna pruriens, porous with high water table, the forest areas Solanum trilobatum, Tinospora cordifolia under these zones are subjected to Randia dumatorum and Cissus tremendous biotic pressure and at present quadrangularis. A forest rest house at their poor floristic composition consists of Kodiakkarai is available for visitors to the limited number of herb and thorn species. sanctuary. The present situations does not bring Point Calimere Wildlife Sanctuary and them in any category of Forest type as per the Muthupet mangroves are the most Classification of forests made by Champion important forests and wildlife areas of and Seth 1968. The Coastal regions contain Nagapattinam district. Point Calimere the Casurina plantations, the mangroves and Wildlife sanctuary is located 60 km from the scrub jungle with the exception of a Nagapattinam and Muthupet mangroves is portion of Point Calimere sanctuary where located 70 km from Nagapattinam. Point about 23 sq.km of tropical dry evergreen Calimere Wildlife sanctuary with a total forests are existing. protected area of 30 sq.km is home to the largest population of the endemic Blackbuck iv) Mineral resources in south . Other animals of the sanctuary include the jackal, spotted deer, Major minerals jungle cat, feral horses, black napped hare, including a variety of reptiles. The important major minerals available in Nagapattinam District are as follows: From October to January nearly 90 species of migratory water birds visit the 1. Crude oil sanctuary and its surroundings. They include Flamingoes, Painted storks, Pelicans, 2. Natural gas Spoonbills, ducks, teals and a variety of 3. Silica sand shore birds. The best time to visit the sanctuary for bird watching is November- 4. Lime shell December. The sanctuary is open to visitors 5. Heavy mineral sand (Garnet, throughout the year. Iluminite, Rutile Zircon, Monozite

4 Silica sand Zircon is used for manufacturing The silica sand is an oxide of silicon Zirconium crucibles. The estimated reserve which is used mainly for the manufacture of of the following minerals are Sodium Silicate, which in turn is used in the soap and detergent manufacturing industries Mineral table and also used in foundries, glass making and Mineral Volume ceramics as an abrasives. The Silica sand Ilmenite 8,670 metric tonnes deposit is 4.86 million tonnes, occuring in Garnet 8,450 metric tonnes Vadamalai Manakkadu, Vanduvancherri, Zircon 430 metric tonnes Thanikottagam villages of Taluk in Nagapattinam District. There are 7 Monozite 330 metric tonnes silica sand leases functioning in Rutile 110 metric tonnes Nagapattinam District. Leucozyme 430 metric tonnes Magnetite 1,720 metric tonnes

Grude oil and natural gas

Crude oil is petroleum in its natural The above estimation does not state before it has been refined. Petroleum is include seasonal replenishment of heavy naturally occurring hydrocarbons in free minerals in the coastal area. state whether in the form of natural gas or in Minor minerals a liquid viscous (or) solid form. Natural gas means gas obtained from bore holes and In Nagapattinam district, minor primarily consisting of hydro-carbons. The minerals such as sand and brick earth oil and natural gas are being extracted in quarries are available. There are 8 sand Narimanam, villages by the Oil quarries operating in this district in and Natural Gas Commission. , Thirumalairajan river and Vettar areas. The details of quarrying leases

Lime-shell granted for quarrying various minerals are given in the following table. Lime-shell deposits are available in Sirkali and Nagapattinama taluk of Nagapattinam district (1,87,064 Tonnes). It Area of occurrence of silica sand in is used for making lime-mortar and Nagapattinam district bleaching agent in sugar industries. In Area Name of the Belt Nagapattinam district, one lime-shell lease is ( sq.m) functioning. Vadamalai-Manakkadu 1,795 Heavy minerals Kariappattinam-Chettipulam 6,985

The heavy mineral sands comprise Avarikkadu 1,000 an assemblage of minerals of higher specific Nagakkudaiyan 3,200 gravity and occur as placer deposit along the Vellikidankku-Tanikkottagam sea coast in the beach sand. It occurs in 6,500 Tharangampadi and Sirkali taluks in Dumbavanam-Vanduvancherri 10,250 Nagapattinam district Garnet is used in the Thillaivilagam-Melvaymedu 16,500 abrasive industries, and manufacturing ambuvamadal-Therkku synthetic gems. Ilminate is used for aircraft Thillaivilagam 9,500 industry.

5 Quarry details

No. of leases in No. of leases in Name of the minerals patta lands poramboke lands Crude oil and natural gas 2 -- Silica sand 7 -- Lime shell - 1 Sand 2 8 Brick earth 4 -- Total 15 9

vi) Fisheries production Water resources

The district is situated in the deltaic The Nagapattinam district has a region of the famous river Cauvery and coastal line of 188 km Fishery is the the criss-crossed by network of irrigation canals. economic backbone of this coastal district. Kollidam river forms the Northern boundary Having a long coastal area, this district plays of the district, whereas Arasalar, a major role in marine commodities. The Thirumalairajan , Vettar and Vennar rivers marine ecosystem provides mankind with drain the other parts of it. All these are food, medicines, industrial products etc. tributaries and branches of the river This ecosystem has to be maintained in a Cauvery. Canals serve nearly 80 percent of healthy state, if it is to provide people the the total net area irrigated and only the river benefits in a sustained manner. The waters Cauvery feeds these canals. The Cauvery along the coast of India are delta system is the most ancient of all biologically very productive and possess irrigation schemes in the undivided several unique environmental features. Thanjavur. This comprises mainly of three However, little is known about the marine important projects. They are the famous biodiversity resources along the Bay of Grand Anicut, the Upper Anicut and the Bengal coast near Sirkali taluk, Cauvery Vennar Regulator Project. Tanks Nagapattinam district (Tamilnadu State). and wells are rarely used for irrigation is the Numerous industries, chemical district. factories and aquaculture farms are also

The gross area irrigated by canals and other developing along this coast, which already sources is 1,13,374 ha and 21,405 ha threatens the mangrove forests and marine respectively. The gross area irrigated by the life along the coast in Sirkali taluk. The tanks and the wells are 40 ha and 50 ha input of freshwater and silt impacts the respectively. Therefore canal irrigation salinity of the coastal and estuarine waters constituting 84.07% of the total irrigated as well as coastal circulation patterns. Some area remains the predominant source of coastal areas serving as nursery grounds for irrigation. On an average about 58.20% of commercially valuable species of prawns are the total cropped area is irrigated. polluted. The areas of critical biological achieves about 74% diversity are the mangrove rich habitat along irrigation at the maximum and the coast of Nagapattinam district. The Vedaranniyam achieves 17.85% at the district has good fishing potential in view of minimum. Some blocks achieve irrigation its rich coastal area. The coastal fish at about 60%. production is more than the inland fish

6 production and the production has seen devout Muslim family in a village in the fluctuations. central provinces [], He was named Abdul Kadhar. He came to Tamil vii) Heritage sites Nadu after visiting different places like Keelakkarai and preaching the doctrine of Nagapattinam love, service devotion to the Almighty. He settled down in in a piece of land The district came into existence in granted by a devotee of this saintly preacher. the year 1991 with its headquarter in His words and deeds were divine and Nagappattinam town. It has Shri prophetic. He said preaches the Kayahorana Swami Neelayathatchi Amman fatherhood of God and brotherhood of Man. Temple, Sowriraja Perumal Temple, and He sent his disciples to work among the Nellukkadai Mariamman Temple. The mini people and spread the message of Prophet museum, the towering lighthouse and the Mohammed. He passed away in year 1,558 long beautiful beach are some of the places at the age of 68 in Nagore dargha. worth visiting in this city. The pillar located Khandoori festival is the anniversary in front of the district collectorate stands for celebrations and devotees from all over the the acheivement of the administration along world join the festivals to get blessed by with the citizens of this district in taking the Nagore Andavar. guinness record acheivement of planting the maximum number of saplings in 24 hours.

Poombuhar

Poombuhar is in Sirkali taluk of Nagapattinam district. It is known as Kaveripoompattinam. Tourists have to alight at Mayiladuthurai junction to proceed Poombuhar by road. Visitors from Chennai by train have to get down at Sirkali. Poombuhar is connected to Mayiladuthurai as well as Sirkali by road. The distance from Poombuhar to Mayiladuthurai is 24 km and to Sirkali 21 km Dargha in Nagore Nagore Velankanni is one of the most visited The Dargha in Nagore near pilgrim centres in India. It is a town situated Nagapattinam, the district headquarters is a on the shores of Bay of Bengal. This holy place. Not only the followers of Islam renowned Basilica of the Lady of but also of all faiths visit this sacred centre Health draws pilgrims from all over the throughout the year to offer their prayers World. Not only Christians but also the and get the blessings of the saint. Nearly people of other faiths come to this church to five hundred years ago a son was born in a pray at the shrine of our lady of health.

7 Knowing the importance of this town the Pope in the Vatican city has declared A beautiful Muragan Temple Velankanni as a Holy city. This Roman dedicated to Lord Singaravelan is housed in has an extended Basilica, a large complex. The pillars of this temple which has two floors where one can find the are adorned with intricate and exquisite statue of Christ. The Gothic style of carvings. The beautiful paintings of a architecture is a unique feature of the bygone era are amazing in colour and church. portrayal. Beside this temple has the shrine of Siva, and Hanuman. It is a rare combination, indeed. Worship in this temple removes all the hurdles of the devotees, it is believed.

Thirumullaivasal

This town is 14 km East of Sirkali. It is popular for its fine beach, which is full of natural beauty. This town has an ancient temple. The presiding deity of this temple is Arulmigu Mullaivananathar.

Keelaperumpallam

Velankanni Church Situated 3 km from Poompuhar, Keelaperumpallam receives a stream of The church itself is an imposing devotees every day for worshipping Shri building with inspiring architecture. While Naganatha Swami. This temple is the seat of the buildings have been painted white, roof the Ninth Navagraha, the Kedhu. of the church is made by tiles with striking Thiruvengadu red in contrast to the colour of the walls. The environment around the shrine is spick and Thiruvengadu is situated 8 km from span. There is also a shrine of 'lady of Poompuhar. Navagraha Budhan is situated sorrow' where in the sorrowing Mother is inside the Temple of Arulmigu Swetharanya depicted carrying infant Jesus in her hand. Swami. Devotees from all over India and abroad come to worship Budhan every day. Tarangampadi

It is 35 km north of Nagapattnam on In the divine songs of Devaram, the east coast of Bay of Bengal. Vaitheeswarankoil is called Pullirukku- facilities are available to this place from vellur. The Presiding deity Lord Nagapattinam, Mayiladuthurai, Poompuhar, Vaithiyanathan and the Devi is Sirkali and . Built in the year Thaiyalnayagi. Lord Muruga is called here 1620 it exhibits Danish architecture. The as Arulmigu Muthukumaraswami. fort is now under the control of TamilNadu Vaitheeswarankoil is situated 12 km from Archeological Department. It houses an Mayiladuthurai and 5 km from . archaeological museum. This museum is This temple is the seat of another open on all days expect Friday. Navagraha, the Mars.

8 Thirunangore called Mayiladuthurai. Devotees after

Situated 10 km from Sirkazhi, Thiru- worshipping Mayuranathar can travel from nangore is one of the most sacred places for here to all the places of Navagrahas and Vaishnavaiter. Shri Narayanaperumal other important temples by bus. The festival Temple, Purushothama Perumal temple, of Holy bath known as Kadai Muzhukku in Kudamadum Kootha Perumal kovil, the river Cauvery is celebrated in the month Semponnarangar kovil, Pallikondaperumal of Ippasi. kovil, Varadharaja Perumal koil which had Ananthamangalam been performed Mangala Sananam by On the east coast between Thirumangai Azhwar are located in this Nagappattinam and Chidhambaram, small town. Around Thiru Nangore, there Ananthamangalam is located 5 km from are other Vaishnava temples in Thiruvali, . People from all over Tamil Thirunagiri, Keezhasalai and Perumal koil. Nadu visit the temple of Lord Anjaneyar for

Thirukkadaiyur his grace. The divine statue of Anjaneya here is unique with its three eyes and ten Thirukkadaiyur is in and the bus hands. Special worship of Anjaneya is held route between Chidhambaram - on Saturdays and on the days of Amavasya. Nagappattinam. In this temple, Lord Siva had annihilated Yama, the God of death and viii) Biodiversity destruction to save the life of Markandeya and bestowed immortality on him. It is one Kodikkarai (55 km) also called Point of the most important seats of Sakthi. Inside Calimere, is situated abutting the . the precincts of the temple of Arulmigu Spread over an area of over 312.17 ha, this Amerthakadeswarar is located the temple of Wild Life Sanctuary boasts of mammals like Shri Abirami Amman. blue buck, spotted deer, wild boar, semi wild ponies, bonnet macaque, water birds like Sirkazhi flamingoes, ibises, herons, and spoonbills.

Sirkazhi is located on the main route Sea turtle, starred tortoise, vipers, marsh crocodiles, etc., are some of the reptiles. between Mayiladuthurai and Chidhambaram. Shri Arulmigu Sattanatha Swami temple has Fish, dolphins, dugong, sea lion, sea cow are occasionally found here many wonderful architectural and sculptural features. This temple has been glorified in the divine songs of . One of the four great divine poets, the Saiva Saint Thirugnana was bestowed with the divine grace by Lord Siva and Parvathy here. Every year in the Tamil month of Chithirai, Thirumulaippal festival is celebrated in a grand manner.

Mayiladuthurai

Arulmigu Mayuranathar temple is located here. According to mythology, Annai Parasakthi danced in the form of a peacock and hence the place is Point Calimere Wildlife Sanctury

9 The Muthupet mangrove wetland is access is very difficult due to muddy soil. located in the Southern most part of the Use of mangroves for firewood for Cauvery delta with Palk Strait in the south household consumption is also very less but and extensive mudflats in the north. Many of about 75 families, mostly headed by the drainage arteries of the Cauvery River, destitute women and widows, collect dead namely, Pamini, Korayar, Marakakoryar, wood and dry twigs of the mangroves and Pattuvanachi and Nasuvini, empty their sell them at the local market for their water into the Muthupet mangrove wetland. livelihood. People belonging to 26 hamlets The Muthupet mangrove wetland comprises of 16 revenue villages live around the of healthy and degraded mangroves, large Muthupet mangrove wetlands. The total lagoon and canals, besides creeks and population of these hamlets is about 37,255 manmade fishing canals. but average use of the mangrove wetland for fishing is only limited. According to the 1996 remote sensing data, the total area of the Muthupet Only during the monsoon season mangrove wetland is about 12,000 ha and (October to December) fishers of all these for administrative purposes it is divided into fishing hamlets are engaged in fishing in the 6 Reserve Forests. The presence of two large mangrove lagoon. During the non-monsoon lagoons of about 1,700 ha which are period, most of the fisher folks fish in the contiguous, is one of the characteristic nearby coastal waters. features of the Muthupet mangrove wetlands. The data also show that the area of 3. Impacts the healthy mangrove forest is only about i) Urbanization 1855 ha whereas nearly 7,178 ha of mangrove forest is in degraded condition. The estimated sewage generation is Only 5 mangrove species namely, Acanthus 123.75 lakh liters among municipalities and illicifolius, Agiceras corniculatum, 45.57 lakh liters among town panchayats. Avicennia marina, Excoecaria agallocha Nature of disposal is through river water and and Luminitzera racemosa are present in the quantities is 123.75 lakh liters in Muthupet mangrove wetland. Among them, municipalities and 45.57 lakh liters in town Avicennia marina , which is locally called panchayats.. The solid waste generation is Alaiyathi is dominant, constituting more highest in Nagapattinam among than 95% of the tree population. But unlike municipalities and Vedaranniyam among , trees of Avicennia marina are town panchayats. Overall the solid waste very tall in Muthupet and form a beautiful generated adds up to 37.16 tonnes with a line along the banks of the tidal creeks, collection efficiency of 75.22%. lagoons and canals. Hyper salinity in soil and water is the main reason for the ii) Industrial development presence of low number of mangrove species. The district is deprived of any major industry but it is a flourishing centre of The harvestable forest resources such cottage industries and handicrafts. The as timber and non-timber produce are very district is equally well known for its pith limited in the Muthupet mangroves. Though articles consisting of beautiful models of fodder is available in the wetland, no regular Hindu idols, temples, mosques, flower grazing is practised since mangrove forest is garlands, bouquets, parrots and peacocks. located far away from the villages and

10 The making of musical instruments conservation. Planting and maintaining of jack wood like the veena, the tambura, the thousands of trees and shrubs form a Greet violin, the mridangam, the tabla and the Belt around MRL’s Plant in Panangudi. This kanjara exhibit excellent taste, knowledge mitigates fugitive emission, dilutes and workmanship. There are 490 industrial accidental releases and balances eco- units situated in the composite Thanjavur environment besides beautifying the district, of which, four sugar units, a surroundings. petroleum refinery, a distillery, a thermal power plant are coming under highly The areas with air pollution are the polluting industry. M/s. ONGC has explored and Panangudi villages where crude oil and natural gas in Nagapattinam sugar factory and refinery are functioning. District. The crude oil is made available for As per the ambient air quality status, the Madras Refineries Limited whereas natural average industrial SPM values seem to be on gas is utilized as fuel in ten numbers of the lower side compared to the standards. sodium silicate units. Also this gas is Rest of the indication on Air Quality Status utilized as a fuel for one thermal power is found to be well within the limits. Ground generation unit (2X5 MW) by TNEB in this water contamination is observed in certain area. A SIDCO Industrial Estate is located locations due to sea water intrusion. In at Nagapattinam. The industrial units in several places along the coast either the these estates are non-polluting or less ground water is naturally saline or it is polluting in nature. Madras Refineries artificially made saline by over extraction Limited (MRL) , a major refinery in South and consequent intrusion of sea water into India with an exemplary track record, has the land aquifers. The area mainly affected been conscious of its role in maintaining the from sea water intrusion into the land eco-balance through a number of acquires, are Kuttam area in Nagapattinam environmental control measures. Cauvery District. River Basin Refinery at Panangudi in TNPCB is monitoring the quality of Nagapattinam, MRL refines 0.5 million water from 16 places in Cauvery river bed. metric tonnes per annum of crude. MRL, As per the test, the quality of water is ever since its inception, has been normal. In Kollidam, sampling station methodically planning and implementing falling within the composite Nagapattinam several environment relative projects to district, TDS and Chloride contents of water contain pollution within the Minimal are exceeding the standard value, because of National Standards (MINAS) on several more water evaporation and influence of fronts. backwater. pH of water is slightly more MRL has been working on reducing than the standard. air pollution on two fronts: at its own plants as well as in vehicles using petrol or diesel. iii) Natural hazards At its plants, MRL has switched over to LSHS fuel – far less polluting than the high The tsunami caused heavy damage to sulphur fuel used earlier. A Sulphur houses, tourist resorts, fishing boats, prawn Recovery Unit has been installed at MRL, culture ponds, soil and crops, and affecting resulting in substantial reduction of sulphur the livelihood of large numbers of the dioxide emission. Taking its activities coastal communities. It was found that 1,320 beyond the greening of MRL and its ha of agricultural and non-agricultural lands environs is another fact of environmental were affected by the tsunami. The lands

11 elementary / primary schools, two high were affected by soil erosion, salt schools and 1 higher secondary school were deposition, water logging and other damaged. On the health side four public deposited sediments and debris. Pre and Post health centres and one government hospital Tsunami surveys on soil quality showed an was damaged. increase in pH and EC values, irrespective of distance from the sea. Rainfall during 4. Government initiatives season showed dilution of soluble salts in sediments. Pumping of water has reduced i) Initiatives to improve fisher folk the salinity levels in the well water samples livelihood as well as in the open ponds. Following initiatives were taken after the tsunami for the coastal fisher folk, iv) Natural disaster prone areas Construction of permanent houses

About 7.09% of the land is affected 1. 15,038 houses have been relocated and by water logging and 56.21% is prone to 4,698 houses are being constructed on floods. It has been ascertained from the in-situ sites. available information that all the 6 taluks 2. Of 19,736 houses, the construction of and 12 blocks were affected by flood during 19,019 have been completed handed the year 1991-92 and cyclone during the over to the beneficiaries 717 houses are year 1993-94. As India and the world under various stages of completion. witnessed the catastrophic loss of humanity due to tsunami on 26 th December 2004, 3. In the 2,035 houses constructed by the Nagapattinam also unintended the worst Government 1,143 houses are built by tragedy with 6065 confirmed deaths. The tsunami district implementation unit in entire coastline was devastated in the rural areas and 892 houses by Tamil district. Around 73 habitations in 38 revenue Nadu Slum Clearance Board in urban areas. villages and 5 taluks were affected. Out of 6065 people who died, 1776 were children 4. Of 717 houses which are under various (887 male, 889 females) and 2406 were stages 409 houses by NGOs were women. The high death toll of children and completed before December 2009 and women highlighted the fact that Tsunami remaining 276 houses by Government had caught people unawares. by November 2009.

A possible explanation for the high ii) Coastal protection initiatives number of deaths among women was that the tsunami struck at a time when most of them were in the shore receiving their men The barren land North of folk returning from the sea. Added to this Nagapattinam port is an excellent place for was the fact that it was a day after the dense plantations. The presence of the Christmas and a Sunday morning, which had vertical wall constructed for the a large number of people, enjoying the Nagapattinam port at a distance of about 60 morning breeze. Nagapattinam district alone m from the shoreline has acted as a barrier accounted for 76 percent of the deaths of only marginally against the powerful entire state and was the worst affected tsunami. district in India. In the education front, 41

12 In spite of the presence of this wall, a addition to the seawall, a groynes field number of boats were carried away to the consisting of 5 transition groynes of average land and water on its rear side has moved to length of 100 m, with one or two groynes is a distance of 300 m and a height of about to be formed as 'Thoondilvalivu'. This will 8 m. help the fishing community as there are Keechankuppam number of boats. The rubble mound seawall This is the worst affected area due to may be considered after construction of the tsunami and a number of casualties and loss groynes and monitoring the shoreline of property were reported. The plantations changes. In the barren land due to the have just begun along the coast. The tsunami damaged houses, plantations are has resulted in damage to several bridges recommended. and houses along this stretch. Poombuhar

Velankanni The beach south side of the above The hutments close to the beach have location is protected by an existing seawall. been washed away by the tsunami. A clear The tsunami has penetrated to a distance of width of beach is available. The river about 75 m from shoreline with a run-up of Vellayar joins the sea adjacent to this stretch about 1.5 m. The performance of the of the coast. It is recommended to dredge existing seawall is good as beach has the mouth of river Vellayar and nourish the formed. However, the seawall has to be beach on its Northern side as well as to rehabilitated with a crest elevation of + 4.3 construct a sand dune. Plantations backed up m. The North of this village has to be with sand dunes and masonry buffer blocks protected by a seawall for a distance of are recommended for this stretch of the about 650 m. The large extent of barren land coast. The buffer blocks may also serve as a is to be developed with plantations. relaxing facility for the pilgrims and locals. Vaanagirikuppam

Vellapallam This stretch of the coast is situated This area can be taken up for dense South of Poombuhar and South of Cauvery plantations as hutments are away from the infall point. This is a location, where, a shoreline at a distance of about 200 m. The number of casualties and damages to houses shoreline is found to be stable. Two long have taken place. The damages on the training walls for the improvement of the Southern side of the location showed that mouth of Nallar Straight cut should be taken land has been cleared. This area has again up. been cleared of the debris and barren land is an ideal location for plantations. The beach Tharangampadi (Tranquebar) can be protected by groynes field and the This stretch of the coast at rubble mound seawall with cross-section Tharangampadi comes under the protection similar to . of monuments and places of National heritage. The village Sathankudi, located Pudukuppam

North of the fort has suffered huge loss of The entire village has been washed life and dwelling units. The water has out by the tsunami and the people have penetrated to a distance of about 750 m from totally abandoned their houses. Only the shoreline. The PWD has a proposal for plantations are recommended in this stretch construction of a seawall for a distance of of the coast. about 850 m from the existing seawall. In

13 Palayur develop and demonstrate techniques to restore the degraded areas. A number of casualties and damages to the property have taken place in this 5. Summary / Conclusion stretch of coast. As the village is right on the • banks of river Coleroon, one suggestion is to Nagapattinam is a coastal district of retain the dunes already constructed by the Tamil Nadu, which lies on the east coast local people and the top level of the dune south of and part of may be further raised. The ditch in front of the Nagapattinam district lies to the the dune should be shifted to rear side of the south of Karaikkal and Tiruvarur dune. The dune should take the shape for a districts with an area covering 2,715.83 distance of about 1km Plantations on the sq.km seaside and on the dune are recommended. • This district is enveloping 11 panchayat Thirumalaivasal unions, 4 municipalties, and 8 town panchayats on its development side. On The local people report a number of the revenue side it is housing 2 revenue casualties and damage to property. This divisions with 4 and 3 taluks stretch of the coast is at the confluence point respectively and 523 revenue villages. of the river Vellapallam Uppanar. Entire stretch needs to be dredged and a bund has • The soil type comprises of sandy coastal to be created using this dredged spoil for a alluvium (88.71%,) black soil (6.58%) distance of about 1 km from the mouth. Two and other soils (4.71%). training walls, at the mouth of the river Vellapallm Uppanar are recommended. A • Agriculture, the major economic activity few spurs along the banks of this river need the districts contributes higher share of to be provided in order to divert the flow rice production in the state. Important into the ocean. Plantation along the banks of crops grown in the district are rice, the river is recommended. groundnut, pulses, gingelly, sugarcane and cotton. iii) Awareness initiatives

• There are 41 forest areas in the Various awareness creation activities Nagapattinam district constituting a total have been made among the fisher folk about area of 5311.70 ha 35 forest areas fall tsunami and CRZ issues by different under the reserve forest category with Government and Non Government 5037.21 ha and 6 under reserve land organizations. Attempts have been made to category with 274.49 ha develop bioshields, rebuild livelihoods, and reclaim soil in the tsunami affected • The important major minerals available agricultural fields in Nagapattinam district. in Nagapattinam district are crude oil, natural gas, silica sand, lime shell and iv) Biodiversity heavy mineral sand (garnet, iluminite, Mangrove restoration has been done rutile zircon, monozite). by M.S. Swaminathan Research Foundation (MSSRF) after the tsunami. MSSRF started • The district is situated in the deltaic a project during 1993 in Muthupet mangrove region of the famous river cauvery and is wetlands to identify causes of degradation of criss-crossed by lengthy network of Muthupet mangrove wetlands and to irrigation canals.

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• The Nagapattinam district has a coastal line of 165 km Fishery is the economic • The tsunami caused heavy damage to backbone of this coastal district. houses, tourist resorts, fishing boats, prawn culture ponds, soil and crops, and • The muthupet mangrove wetland is consequently affected the livelihood of located in the Southern most part of the large number of coastal communities. cauvery delta with Palk Strait in the south and extensive mudflats in the • It was found that 1,320 ha of agricultural north. and non-agricultural lands were affected by the tsunami. • According to the 1996 remote sensing data, the total area of the Muthupet • The tsunami left around 6065 people mangrove wetland is about 12,000 ha dead and the entire coastline devastated in this district. Around 73 habitations in • The district is deprived of any major 38 revenue villages and 5 taluks were industry but it is a flourishing centre of affected. cottage industries and handicrafts alike.

• Mangrove restoration has been done by • One Thermal Power Project with M.S. Swaminathan Research foundation installed capacity of 10 MW is (2x5 after the tsunami. MW) available in the district.

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