Tsunami anniversary: ​​Fishermen want memorial at marina, rights restored

The state’s 1,076 km long coastline stands as a memorial to the 2004 tsunami. Every resident of the 608 fishing villages was affected and many in Nagapattinam saw loss of life. But even after 20 years, the scars still remain.

Matsyapalan says that despite assistance from NGOs and the government in the form of boats, nets and houses, their rights have been suppressed over the years and land grabbing in the name of development is increasing.

MD Dayalan, a community leader in Kasimedu, says that what has happened in the last 20 years is a slow tsunami. “Terrible waves that day destroyed houses, killed people, overturned boats and destroyed lives in one fell swoop. But what is happening now in the name of development is not acceptable.”

“On the one hand, fishing has declined, which has killed traditional fishermen, while on the other, younger generations are trying to find employment in areas other than fishing, but few succeed. Our opinion can hardly be taken for granted. Projects such as desalination plants, construction of resorts, amusement parks and coal-fired power stations have only taken away the traditional lands hitherto occupied by fishermen,” he pointed out.

Another community leader of Nochikuppam K. Bharti said it was a long and difficult battle to maintain his rights to fish and boat on the marina beach. ‘It would have been better if the tsunami had taken us with it. We do not come to see this day when our very existence is being questioned. The government wants to make the sands of Marina Loop Road and beyond a blue flag beach,” he said.

“What the marina really needs is a memorial to the people who lost their lives in the tsunami. It should be a reminder of the power of nature and tell the story of what happened that day for future generations,” he said.

Members of the fishing community are fighting for houses after the tsunami. In Ennore’s Nettukuppam, houses built as replacements for those who lost their homes in the tsunami were swallowed up by the sea but families remain homeless as the structures are not insured against erosion.

“These families have been traumatized enough to last a lifetime. They have lost their homes to the sea twice and the government has done nothing. “The government has constructed only about 25 percent of the promised houses,” said Joseph, a resident.

In Nochikuppam, fishermen continue to fight for houses built as part of the rehabilitation project. Local Kabaddi Maran said houses were allotted to people from other areas.