Residents hit by sea erosion

From A.M. Jazeel, our Addalachchenai Corr.

People living in close proximity to the Oluvil port, especially those immediately north of it, complain that the construction of the port’s two breakwaters has aggravated sea erosion which has destroyed a number of coconut palms and even cottages.

They also claim that the sea has already swallowed much of the land in the region.

Chief Engineer of the Sri Lanka Ports Authority, Ms. Chandrakanthi Lokuhewage, who is overseeing the construction of the harbour, when asked for comment, admitted that erosion was taking place north of the port. She said they had already got Lanka Hydraulic Institute, Moratuwa, to do a study of it. The report submitted by LHI had recommended the construction of three breakwaters off the coast to solve the problem.

Lokuhewage said the Ports Authority was having discussions yesterday in Oluvil with a Danish government official, who is here to monitor the progress of the project, to utilise part of the Euro 46.1 million loan extended by the Danish government for the construction of the Oluvil Port, to build three breakwaters.

"They are keen not to leave behind any problems with any project undertaken by them and we are hopeful of getting the funds released to build the breakwaters soon", Lokuhewage said.

Meanwhile, the Danish contractor M. T. Hogaard, who has undertaken the construction of the port, having missed several deadlines to complete it, is said to be still struggling with the construction of its two breakwater heads and at present has temporarily abandoned that section due to the prevalent rough seas.

Sources said they expected the contractor to bring in a heavy dredger and heavy lift buckets to resume the job early next year.

Local engineers are full of praise for all other infrastructure work done by the contractor, including a 4.5 km boundary wall, cold rooms, ice plant, fish auction, net mending facility and separate administration buildings for a fisheries harbour and commercial port.

At the time of awarding the contract in 2008, the contractor was required to complete the project in 27 months. Later he was given a further nine month extension, which, too, elapsed last July. he was again given time till December this year. Now, the contractor has asked for time till July next year to complete the job.

Meanwhile, Addalachchenai Divisional Secretary Mohammed Naseer said that applications received from the victims of sea erosion had been referred to authorities concerned for remedial action.

http://www.island.lk/index.php?page_cat=article-details&page=article-details&code_title=37780