MODELLING STUDIES OF THE PROPOSED FISHERY HARBOUR AT THALAI AND PREPARATION OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT PLAN

Funding Agency: Harbour Engineering Department, Govt. of Kerala

Thalai, an important fishing centre in Kannur district, is a natural bay formed by a cluster of rocks extending into the sea that acts as an offshore barrier giving some natural protection to operate the vessels. It attracted large number of canoes and other fishing crafts from the nearby villages. Hence the Harbour Engineering Department, Government of Kerala has initiated activities for the construction of a fishing harbour at Thalai and has proposed a design for this purpose which required detailed physical as well as mathematical modelling studies before the design is finalised. A detailed Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) study was also to be conducted before implementation that would take into consideration, the possible impact of the harbour development on physical as well as socio-economic environment. The detailed objectives of the study were to suggest suitable alignment, length and cross section of breakwaters required to obtain a tranquil basin with minimum siltation and with a tranquillity wave height at entrance to the berth 0.30m, to suggest a suitable alignment for the entrance channel to have a minimum depth of - 3 m and 75 m wide, to predict the quantity of maintenance dredging required both in the entrance channel and in the harbour basin so as to maintain a depth of - 3 m and - 2 m respectively, to propose a suitable dredging and disposal pattern for the harbour and to carryout Environmental Impact Assessment of harbour construction and to prepare an Environmental Management Plan. The study concluded by providing an effective layout for the harbour with a tranquil basin of minimum siltation. The quantity of maintenance dredging required for keeping the efficiency of the harbour is also proposed. Further a detailed Environment Management Plan was also formulated for the harbour and its vicinity to conform to the standards.