INDIAN LIGHTHOUSES – AN OVERVIEW CONTENTS Foreword Preface Indian Lighthouse Service – An introduction Lighthouses and Radar Beacons [Racons] The story of Radio Beacons Decca Chain & Loran -C Chain References Abbreviations Drawings Lighthouses through Ages Light sources Reflectors and Refractors Photographs Write up notes Index Lighthouses on West Coast Kachchh & Saurashtra Gulf of Khambhat & Maharashtra Goa, Kanataka & Kerala Lakshadweep & Cape Lighthouses on East Coast Tamilnadu & Andhra Orissa & West Bengal Lighthouses in Andaman & Nicobar Islands Bay Islands Andaman & Nicobar FOREWORD The contribution saga of Indian Lighthouses in enriching the Indian Maritime Tradition is long and cherished one. A need was felt for quite some time to compile data on Indian Lighthouses which got shape during the eighth Senior Officers meeting where it was decided to bring out a compilation of Indian Lighthouses. The book is an outcome of two years rigorous efforts put in by Shri R.K. Bhanti, Director (Civil) who visited all the lighthouses in pursuit of collecting data on Lighthouses. The Lighthouse-generations to come will fondly remember his contribution. “Indian Lighthouses- an Overview” is a first ever book on Indian Lighthouses which gives implicit details of Lighthouses with a brief historical background. I am hopeful this book will be useful to all concerned. 21st July, 2000 J. RAMAKRISHNA Director General PREFACE The Director General Mr. J. Ramakrishna, when in December, 1997, asked me to document certain aspects of changes which took place at each Lighthouse during different periods of time, and compile them into a book, little did I realise at that time that the job was going to be quite tough and a time consuming project. In the process I visited most of the Lighthouses and met a number of Veterans possessing knowledge about the old Lighthouse towers and equipments. They included Mr Ujagar Singh, Mr PV Juvekar, Mr D.Gurumoorthy, Mr Sheikh Moula Ali, Mr N Singaravelu, Mr J.M. Joshipura, Mr JR Cruz, Mr Govind Teja and many others. Needless to say that these interactions were very interesting and useful. I am grateful to all of them. for their whole hearted co-operation. Mr B.S.Srivathsan, Mr E.U.Rao and Mr A.R.Acharjyya, the former Directors General as well as Mr R.Nagarajan Senior Engineer, Mumbai Port Trust, made available to me important notes and technical data for which I am deeply indebted to them. I express my profound gratitude for the suggestions and spirited inspirations I received from Mr J.N.Mankad and Mr K.N.Varadarajan, Retired Senior Lighthouse Engineers. They took pains in reviewing the Script and rendered valuable advice. Incidentally the late SL Kapoor former Dy Director General had also blessed the book before his sad demise. Not to forget Mr S.G.Malpathak and Mr P.P.Sinha, my colleagues who have been the driving force behind the project – my heartfelt thanks to them. After the hectic work of two years I am able to present this Book “Indian Lighthouses- An Overview”. Attempt has been made in this book to apprise Reader of various technical features of each lighthouse and general topography and approach to the station. The Reader outside the Lighthouse organisation is advised to go through the introductory chapters. Although utmost care has been taken in compiling most of the information correctly, some errors might have still been existing. I shall feel obliged if the Readers bring these errors or short comings if any to my notice. This would help me bring out an improved Second edition I gratefully acknowledge the whole hearted support I received from the Director General and the cooperation I received from all the Dy Directors General as well as Directors without which it would not have been possible to bring out this volume. Finally, my affectionate thanks are due also to my friends, Sharda Gaikwad, Prashant Mhatre, J.Avinash John and Surendra Kapote who were all part of this project - carrying out typewriting, sketching, editing, and printing- they contributed their sincere efforts in making this Volume a reality just before my retirement from the Indian Lighthouse Services. “Indian Lighthouses – An Overview” is dedicated to the memory of all those who built lighthouses in India during the 19th & 20th centuries- above all to Mr John Oswald and Mr S.K. Lahari who founded the Lighthouse service in India and formed the to-day‟s Deptt. of Lighthouses and Lightships. The volume is also dedicated to the Light Keepers who rendered valuable service to Vengurla Rock Lighthouse. Noida. July, 2000. R.K. BHANTI PREFACE TO THE SECOND EDITION “Indian Lighthouses-An Overview” had to be completed in a hurry during 1998-2000 taking limited time out of my routine duty schedules therefore many mistake remained undetected. It was as such necessary to carry out the complete review of the work which was possible to do after my retirement-during 2000-02.Thanks to the Barton Library, Bhavnagar and the District Archives Office, Bhavnagar where I could lay hands on some useful books and the Annual Administrative Reports of the Maritime Princely States for the period 1903-1947 that provided an insight into the maritime activities of the bygone years. I received some interesting material on lighthouses from I.C.R.Prasad, a serving Head Light Keeper who possesses a vast collection of varied literature on world lighthouses. I have tried to update the technical data after the Earth quake 2001.Some of the suggestions received from my friends have also been incorporated in this edition of “Indian Lighthouses-An Overview”. I am thankful to Mr. H.M.Mankodi, my old time friend who took pains in correcting the revised scripts. My gratitude to Mr. M.D. Devaraju for his valuable friendly assistance in bringing out this edition on CD. And gratitude to Avinash John & my son Subhendu for editing CD version of “Indian Lighthouses - An Overview . Bhavnagar August, 2003. R.K. BHANTI INDIAN LIGHTHOUSE SERVICE – AN INTRODUCTION There was no uniform system of management of Lighthouse services in British India till 1927 when Lighthouse Act was passed on 21st September 1927 which came into force in April 1929. The Director General of Lighthouses & Lightships (first designated as the Chief Inspector of Lighthouses in 1929 and later the „Engineer - in – Chief „in 1934 and „Director General‟ in 1957), according to the Act is the Principal Advisor to the Govt of India in the matters relating to Lighthouses including modern Electronic Aids to Marine Navigation. Mr John Oswald was the first Chief (1929-1939) followed by Mr A. N. Seal (1939-1949); And then Mr S. K Lahiri (1949-1964) who expedited the development process and added 50 Lighthouses, 1 Light vessel, 12 Electronic Aids Stations and 6 Motor Launches on the coast line of India during his tenure. At the time of Independence in 1947, there existed only 17 „General‟ Lighthouses in India. The lighthouses in Bombay region were managed by the Collector of Central Excise and those in Madras and Calcutta regions, by the Principal Officer, Mercantile Marine Department. Consequent to the amalgamation of various Princely States with the Indian Union by 1949, all the lighthouses under the control of Maritime States were transferred to the Central Govt. Therefore it became necessary to establish separate Lighthouse District in the region of Saurashta & Kutch and to re- organise the Lighthouse Districts of Bombay, Madras and Calcutta. Subsequently two additional Districts were set up- one at Port Blair and other at Cochin. A new Lighthouse District has been set up at Kakinada in April-2002. Central Advisory Committee for Lighthouses ( CACL) : The CACL has to advise the Govt of India for the establishment of lighthouses, their alteration or removal as well as to examine various proposals concerning lighthouses including Electronic Aids. The CACL is appointed by the President of India for a period of two years drawing representatives from various sectors of Shipping interests- Sailing crafts, Fisheries, Chamber of Commerce etc. It is required to meet at least once in a year under the Chairmanship of the Secretary, Ministry of Shipping. General‟ and „Local‟ lighthouses – The lighthouses are categorized as „General‟ and „Local‟ according to utility of particular lighthouse to navigation i.e. on high seas and in port channels. The Superintendence and maintenance of „General‟ lighthouses lies with the Deptt of Lighthouses & Lightships (Central Govt) and those of „Local‟ lighthouses with the State Govt or Port management. Light Dues: The Deptt. of Lighthouses & Lightships generates it‟s own revenues, as provided in the Act by the levy of „Light Dues‟ on all ships entering or leaving Indian Ports. The present rate being Rs.8 per GRT. The Deptt. earns around Rs. 60 Crores a year. Growth of Lighthouse : a) Skeleton Plan‟– Soon after Independence, the improvement of 7 lighthouses-Okha, Mangrol, Korlai Fort, Bhatkal, Dolphin`s Nose, Puri and False Point was taken up in 1950 under this skeleton plan. b) 5-Year Plans: Under successive 5-Year Plans, several Lighthouses were established to provide adequate aids to navigation along the entire country‟s coast-line. c) The table below gives a glance over the progress achieved up to the 20th century end: Rad- Decca/ Deep Light Period Light Fog io Loran Racon DGPS Sea Vess- Light House house Signal Bea- „C‟ Stn Stn Buoys el Tenders con MV ML Upto Dec 1947 17 - - - - - - - - - Upto Dec 1950 34 - - - - - - - - 1 Upto Dec 1960 47 1 3 - - - 1 - 1 3 Upto Dec 1970 84 11 7 8 - - 1 1 3 6 Upto Dec 1980 117 13 7 12 6 - 1 1 3 7 Upto Dec 1990 155 - 14 12 11 - 12 1 3 5 Upto Dec 2000 167 - 11 10 28 10 12 1 1 2 Light sources and Sources of Energy: Prior to 1947 the lighthouses had only Petroleum Vapour Burners or Dissolved Ace-tylene Gas Burners as the illuminants.