Chennai :

Chief minister J Jayalalithaa on Wednesday laid the foundation for the Poompuhar fishing harbour in Nagapattinam through video-conferencing from the secretariat. The fishing harbour, a long-pending proposal, would be set up at a cost of 78.5 crore.

Presently, the harbour at Poompuhar is not conducive to mechanized fishing boats to offload their catch on the shore due to strong waves. They also struggle to take diesel and ice cubes needed to preserve their catch. The harbour project, initially proposed in 1995, was revived in 2001 after the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) gave its approval.

The ASI had earlier opposed the project in Poompuhar, considered an historical town, and declined to grant clearance. It is believed that Poompuhar had submerged under the sea after a tsunami washed it away.

The proposed harbour will have modern facilities like net-mending shed, fuel supply and storage, fish auctioning hall and cold storage facilities. Bays to park 150 mechanised fishing boats, 350 country boats and other fishing vessels will be constructed as part of the harbour, said a release. Nearly 30,000 people will benefit from the project, the release said.

source: http://www.articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Chennai > Archaelogical Survey / TNN / September 12th, 2013