Encroachments led to flooding of Thoothukudi

This year’s 720.46 mm rain in Thoothukudi district was 40 mm lower than last year’s, they said.

In 2014, the district had an annual rainfall of 763.35 mm. The 341.44 mm of rain registered in November this year too was not unusual as the district registered 363 mm of rain during the same period in 2009, when the district was not flooded. The district also did not see such severe damage in 2008, when the annual rainfall was 1049.89 mm, around 300 mm higher than the total rain registered in the district this year.

According to district collector M. Ravikumar, infrastructural damage caused by the rains this year amounts to '737.71 crore, in addition to 425 fully damaged and 1398 partially damaged huts.

Further enumeration to estimate the damages caused to crops and cattle are on, involving 1451 officials belonging to various government departments.

Crop damage assessment is expected to be completed by this Friday (December 18), according to the

Thoothukudi district collector.

Revenue officials believe that rain alone cannot be blamed for such a huge damage. “Encroachment of water bodies is the major reason for the severe damage caused this year,” said a revenue official, according to whom, the flood channels and waterways that help drain floodwater into the sea, were encroached by several private shipping companies and fish processing units.

Around 40 per cent of the godowns of private companies are built, blocking the waterways. The district administration has plunged into action and identified encroachments to the extent of around nine hectares along water bodies in Thoothukudi district. According to the district revenue officer, encroachments in over four hectares were cleared in just two weeks and the rest will be cleared soon on a war footing.