Nagapattinam’s deltaic coast caught in ‘silky crisis’ with sinking shores

Key Points

1. Coastlines of Vellapallam, Pushpavanam, and Vanavan Mahadevi affected by 'silky clay'.
2. 1,270 families in these hamlets depend on the sea for livelihood.
3. Fishermen pay ₹200 per boat launch/retrieval due to the clay.
4. Vennar Basin is identified as the source of the sediment causing the issue.
5. ₹132-crore project at Vellapallam is in jeopardy due to breakwater stones sinking.
6. Approximately ₹100 crore has been spent on the Vellapallam project, with 80% of the work completed.
7. A revised estimate of ₹100 crore has been submitted for the Vellapallam project.
8. A ₹25-crore small fishing harbor in Pushpavanam remains a proposal.
9. Vanavan Mahadevi awaits a fish landing center despite a foundation stone being laid.