Delay in demolition of old iron bridge in Manakudy poses threat to fishermen

The hold successful demolishing the deteriorated aged robust span successful Manakudy, which was constructed arsenic a impermanent installation aft the 2004 tsunami, is presently posing a menace to some fishermen and hundreds of fibre boats docked on the shore.

The devastating Indian water tsunami, which occurred successful the twelvemonth 2004 had brought dreadful demolition and inflicted fatal harm to the coastal areas of Tamil Nadu, on with different parts of the world. The span connecting Keela Manakudy and Mela Manakudy was washed away, erstwhile elephantine waves deed the area.

Following the dreadful incident, to link some the villages, an robust span was constructed, arsenic a impermanent facility. Later, a imperishable factual span was inaugurated successful 2013 and named aft Lourdammal Simon successful 2020.

In the meantime, pursuing the inauguration of a imperishable operation successful the area, the question connected the impermanent installation was wholly suspended, which gradually began to deteriorate owed to upwind conditions. However the information of the robust span worsened implicit a play of time, prompting the fishermen to telephone retired for its contiguous demolition.

Remguies, a fisherman from Mela Manakudy, said that implicit 350 boats are docked on the enactment adjacent the aged bridge. He added that villagers person submitted aggregate petitions successful the past 2 years, but nary factual actions person been taken truthful far.

“A fewer months ago, we straight met higher authorities of the state’s fisheries section and submitted a petition regarding the issue, which inactive awaits an action,” helium added.

Lawrence, different fisherman from Keela Manakkudi besides echoed the akin concerns arsenic Remguies.

“Fishermen person to walk nether the span each time, earlier they task into the oversea oregon travel backmost to the jetty. If immoderate untoward incidents, for lawsuit if a portion falls connected fishermen, who volition beryllium responsible,” helium questioned.

Hundreds of boats are besides docked astatine the area, adjacent to the dilapidated bridge, if damaged parts of the span falls connected the fibre boats, the fishermen themselves person to walk a immense assistance connected repairing that, Mr. Lawrence noted.

Fr. Churchill of South Asian Fishermen Fraternity said, “The authorities indispensable instrumentality sensible action, speechmaking the issue, arsenic the damaged operation is posing menace to lives of hundreds of fishermen and their livelihood.”

Speaking connected this, an authoritative from the authorities highways section told The Hindu that the connection worthy astir ₹11 lakh has been approved, a tender volition beryllium floated and the damaged operation volition beryllium cleared shortly.