The harbor in Pondicherry had devastating environmental, social and economic consequences and now the Govt of Puducherry wants to build another harbor at the southern end. Find out what will be the impacts.

1. IMPACTS OF PROPOSED HARBOUR AT PUDUKUPPAM
BY GOVT OF PUDUCHERRY
- CREATING ONE DISASTER AFTER ANOTHER-

2. 2015 - TWENTY FIVE YEARS AFTER THE FIRST HARBOUR WAS BUILT
Erosion continues to devastate the coastline and
the Government of Puducherry has no funds to
take up any mitigation measures
BUT
The Govt of Puducherry now proposes to construct
another new fishing harbour at Pudukuppam
at the border of Pondicherry and Cuddalore District
Existing harbour
at Ariyankuppam
New harbour
at Pudukuppam
Pondicherry
Cuddalore

3. Cutting open the existing sand dune to
connect the sea to the canal
Construction of two Massive breakwaters
240 and 200 meters into the sea
Dredging the tank to a depth of -0.2m
PROPOSED HARBOUR BY GOVT OF PUDUCHERRY AT PUDUKUPPAM
240 M
200 M
Pondicherry
Cuddalore
DredgerSand Dune
The project under construction

4. FACTS ABOUT BAHOOR AREA AND THE MULLODAI LAGOON
Since Chola times water drained from the network of
tanks through Mulodai channel into the Ponnayar River
PWD has spent 41 cr for the Tank Rehabilitation program
which was funded by European Union
The Tank Users Association formed by PWD has done
commendable work in improving the water situation
Freshwater from the canal is used to irrigate agricultural
lands of farmers both in Pondicherry and Tamil Nadu
Many inland fishermen depend on this estuary for fresh
water fish and prawns
Mullodai Lagoon
Ponnaiyar River

5. THE MULLODAI CHANNEL WAS NEVER OPEN TO THE SEA
The people living in that area also confirm that the channel was never open

6. PWD’s application for clearance from Ministry of Environment (MoEF) had 2 blatant lies
 This project will not create any coastal erosion.
(PWD has built seawalls all along the coast for protection against severe erosion and
attended all the meetings on coastal erosion where hard structures have been disapproved)
 The mouth of the channel was blocked with sand dunes during tsunami and hence the
fishermen could not bring their boats safely to the land.
(This is to evade conducting an Environment Impact Assessment and Public Hearing)
Pondicherry Coastal Zone Management Authority gave approval without verifying the facts
Ministry of Environment and Forests cleared the project subject to certain conditions
- Existing sand dunes should not be disturbed in any way
- PWD should ensure there is no ingress of saline water ingress into groundwater
- Adopt Rainbow technique for beach nourishment to combat coastal erosion
PROJECT BASED ON FALSE FACTS

7. IMPACTS OF EROSION DUE TO THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE HARBOUR
Existing harbour
at Ariyankuppam
New harbour
at Pudukuppam
River mouth will
get blocked
SOUTH OF THE HARBOUR
 Accretion of sand will block the Ponnaiyar river
mouth and cause flooding in the hinterland
13kmcoastwillgetdestroyed
 Destruction of all the coastal villages upto
Veerampattinam affecting thousands of
fishermen
 Existing and proposed tourism projects will
have to be abandoned
NORTH OF THE HARBOUR

8. IMPACTS ON FOOD, WATER & LIVELIHOOD SECURITY
Coast more prone to cyclones, tidal waves and tsunamis
(Pudukuppam saved by sand dunes during tsunami
while 2 km away in Cuddalore thousands perished)
BAHOOR IS KNOWN AS THE RICE BOWL OF PONDICHERRY
Salt water intrusion will make coastal aquifers and
tank water saline affecting our water security
600 acres of land in Pondy and Tamil Nadu will
turn into wasteland affecting 15000 farmers
An unique eco system will be lost
Tsunami funds being misused to make people more vulnerable.
Puducherry Govt has not consulted the Tamil Nadu Govt for this project.
Pondicherry
Cuddalore, TN
Mullodai Lagoon

9. The Govt of Puducherry has not been able to find
a solution or the resources to mitigate the damage
worth thousands of crores caused by the existing harbour.
QUESTIONS:
1) What is the justification of building another harbour ?
2) Who will be held accountable for this never ending saga
of man-made environmental damage, human misery
and waste of public money and resources.

10. AGG (Alliance for Good Governance)
INTACH People’s Pulse Pondicherry Science Forum
PUDENCO Poovulagin Nanbargal Federation for People’s Rights
PondyCAN Sembadugai Naneeragam Pondicherry People’s Protection Committee
E-Mail: aggpondy@gmail.com
Thank you