6 months ago
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The Tamil Nadu Fisheries Department has called for tenders to procure fiber-reinforced integrative (FRP) coracles for usage successful municipality areas successful the lawsuit of flooding. Nearly 200 coracles, each costing ₹13,000, are to beryllium acquired for areas wherever waterlogging is not expected to beryllium excessively deep.
Sources successful the Department said they were calling for bids connected behalf of the Disaster Management Department, which has allocated funds for the purpose. “We are besides procuring 300 boats, galore without propellers. We are opting for engine- and propeller-free boats; otherwise, if determination are obstructions nether the water, the boats could easy capsize,” explained a source.
Each vessel is priced astatine astir ₹1.5 lakh to ₹2 lakh. Factors specified arsenic the sturdiness of the craft, its carrying capacity, and buoyancy are being taken into consideration. This is the 2nd tender for boats, arsenic the archetypal telephone received fewer responses.
The trade is expected to person a minimum lifespan of 5 years, during which attraction volition not beryllium required. “It is capable if they are not exposed to nonstop sunlight. Once procured, the boats and coracles volition beryllium handed implicit to the respective territory collectors for usage arsenic needed,” added different authoritative source.
With instances of municipality flooding connected the rise, the services of fishermen person been employed for rescue operations successful galore cities, including Chennai, implicit the past fewer years. “Each vessel is rented astatine ₹4,000 per day. Considering that a vessel tin beryllium purchased for astir ₹1.5 lakh, buying 1 is much economical successful the agelong run,” said an manufacture watcher.
He besides added that purchasing the boats and handing them implicit to the Fisheries Department would beryllium better. “They tin coordinate with Revenue Department officials and run the boats during floods. At different times, the trade tin beryllium kept astatine the department’s inland farms, wherever they tin beryllium utilized for reservoir management, inspections, and illustration collection,” helium said.
A retired Fisheries Department authoritative recalled that successful 2018-19, astir 20 coracles were brought from Mettur dam and utilized successful the outskirts of Chennai. He recalled an lawsuit wherever a babe was delivered successful 1 specified coracle astatine Padappai. “Since it is simply a precise tiny craft, it is convenient to usage it connected metropolis roads,” helium added.
