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CHAPTER 2

STUDY AREA: CUDDALORE

2.1 INTRODUCTION

Tamil Nadu, the southernmost state of the Indian peninsula, spread

over 1,30,058 km2, lies between 80 0 0 0

Tamil Nadu has 32 districts of which 13 districts are located along the coast.

Cuddalore district (figure 2.1) is situated about 160 kms south of Chennai, the

state capital. The area of the district is 3706 km2. The headquarters of the

Cuddalore district is Cuddalore (11044' 45" N and 79045'56" E), a large

industrial town which has experienced coastal development at a rapid rate.

Cuddalore district is bounded on the north by the Villupuram district and the

Union territory of Puducherry, on the west by the Perambalur and Ariyalur

districts, on the south by the Nagapattinam, Thiruvarur and Thanjavur districts

and on the east by the Bay of Bengal.

Figure 2.1 Index map of Cuddalore District

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The coastal stretch of Cuddalore extends from Gadilam estuary in the

north to Pichavaram mangroves in the south, a total length of 42 km along the

Bay of Bengal. The Bay of Bengal experiences severe tropical cyclones during

the northeast monsoon (October through December), and nearly 60 cyclonic

storms and SCS have been reported in the past century (Indian Meteorology

Department (IMD) eAtlas 2011). An added risk factor is that large parts of this

coastal zone are low-lying with a gentle slope, resulting in wide inundation

areas, thus increasing the vulnerability of the region (Murthy et al., 2006).

2.2 HISTORY

The district was ceded to the British in 1801. Until 1808, it consisted

of that part of the Mughal Subah of Arcot which lay to the south of the river

that the country around the Palar was in olden days covered by six forests which

were the abodes of six Rishis (saints). The history of the systematic

administration of the Land Revenue of erstwhile South Arcot District begins

with the acquisition from the Nawab in 1801, when the Nawab handed over the

Carnatic to the Company. Captain Graham, who was appointed to take charge of

the district lying between Palar and Portonovo rivers, became the first Collector

of South Arcot (South Arcot Gazetteer, 1961).

At that time, the district of South Arcot consisted of the 21 Taluks of

Arcot, Vellore, Thirupathur, Polur, Arani (the Jagir of that name) Wandiwash,

Chetpet, Thiruvannamalai, Gingee, Tindivanam, Valudavur, Villupuram,

Anniyur, Tirukoilur, Thiruvennainallur, Tiruvadi, Elavanasur, Kallakurichi,

Vridhachalam, Tittagudi and Bhuvanagiri but excluded the Fort St. David and

the territory of Pondicherry, both of which had been separately acquired and

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administered separately. In April 1805, the then Taluk of Mannarkudi (now

known as Chidambaram) was added from Tiruchirapalli to this huge charge.

However in 1808, Arcot, Vellore, Thirupathur, Polur and Arani Jagir were

transferred to North Arcot and Wandiwash to Chengelput while the Fort St.

David and Pondicherry villages (which at different time had been under both,

the Collector and the commercial resident at Cuddalore) were annexed with the

District. In 1816, Pondicherry was finally restored to the French and erstwhile

South Arcot assumed practically its position. Cuddalore was District

Headquarters for South Arcot District for more than a century (South Arcot

Gazetteer, 1961). The present Cuddalore District was formed on 30.9.1993 by

bifurcation of the South Arcot district into two viz., Cuddalore and Villupuram.

2.3. GEOGRAPHICAL LOCATION

The district lies between 110 0

780 0E Longitude. It has an average elevation of 1 metre (3 feet). It

is a predominately agricultural district with the coastline stretching from the

Puducherry Union Territory in the north to the mouth of the River Coleroon in

the south. The total geographical area of the district is 3706 km2 with a coast line

of about 54 kms. It is 19th largest district in Tamil Nadu and ranked 332 in India

in terms of total area. The district is 11th most populous district out of 32 districts

in Tamil Nadu and it is 158th most populous district in India. It is 7 th most

densely populated district in Tamil Nadu and 168th most densely populated

district out of total 640 districts in India. Table 2.1 shows the vital statistics

about India, Tamil Nadu and Cuddalore district.

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Table 2.1 India, Tamil Nadu and Cuddalore district- vital statistics

ITEM INDIA TAMIL NADU CUDDALORE Population (No.) 1,21,01,93,422 7,21,38,958 26,00,880

Male (No.) 62,37,24,248 3,61,58,871 13,11,151

Female (No.) 58,64,69,174 3,59,80,087 12,89,729

Sex Ratio (per 1000) 940 995 984

Density (No./km2) 382 555 702

Area 3,287,240 Km2 1,30,058 Km2 3706 Km2

Literacy (%) 74.04 80.33 79.06 (Source: Census of India-2011)

2.4 ADMINISTRATIVE DIVISIONS AND DEMOGRAPHY

The district has 3 revenue divisions, 7 Taluks, 32 revenue Firkas and

873 revenue villages. With respect to local administrative bodies, there are 5

municipalities, 13 panchayat unions, (figure 2.2), 16 town Panchayats, 683

village Panchayats and 873 revenue villages. The district has a total population

of twenty six Lakhs with 13,11,151 males and 12,89,729 females (2011 census).

The sex ratio in Cuddalore stood at 984 per 1000 males according to the 2011

census. Of the total population, 17,18,249 (66.06%) persons live in rural areas

and 8,82,631 (33.94%) persons live in urban areas.

The population density of the district is 702 persons per km2. The

literacy rate of the district is 79.04% with male literacy at 86.84% and female

literacy at 71.20%. The total strength of workforce in the district is 9,72,066 of

which 6,36,911 are male and 3,36,155 are female. The rural workforce

constitutes about 30% of the district population while urban workers constitute

about 10% of the population. Farmers constitute about 8% of the district

population and about 20% of the district population works as agriculture

labourers. The district has about 3.5 Lakhs cattle population, 2.5 Lakh goats, 0.6

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Lakh sheep and 3.35 Lakh poultry and 0.4 Lakh buffaloes. The district has two

parliamentary constituencies and nine assembly constituencies.

Figure 2.2 Cuddalore District Block Map (Taken from GISNIC, Tamil Nadu)

2.5. INFRASTRUCTURE

The district has 228 working factories whose workforce is organized

under 57 Trade Unions. There are 35 large scale industries, 167 small scale

industries, 200 cottage industries and 114 medium scale industries.

2.5.1 Land Transport, Sea Port and Communication

Cuddalore district has 183.738 Km length of National Highways,

1671.024 Km of State Highways, 436.93 Km of Corporation & Municipality

roads, 4283.93 Km of Panchayat Union & Panchayat roads, 791.634 Km of

Town Panchayat & Township roads (figure 2.3), 107 kms of broad gauge

railway track and 81 km of metre gauge track passes through twenty seven

Railway Stations. Cuddalore old town (OT) is the sea port in the district. The

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district has 488 post offices doing postal business alone and 25 post offices

doing post & telegraphs business. The total number of telephones in use is

1,60,366 with 9413 Public call offices and 163 telephone exchanges.

Figure 2.3 Cuddalore Road and Rail Network 2.5.2 Health and Education

Cuddalore district has one university, eight arts and science colleges,

four engineering colleges, one agriculture college, nine teacher training colleges,

1245 primary schools, 307 middle schools and 137 high//higher secondary

schools. The district has one milk chilling plant and 237 milk societies, and

produces 130 Lakh litres of milk per annum. The district has eight hospitals, 50

Primary Health Centres, 319 Health Sub Centres, and 53 other medical

institutions (Government-5, Private-48). There are 1408 Beds in Hospitals &

Dispensaries and 212 Doctors. The birth rate (per 1000 Population) is 23.2 and

the death rate is 4.9.

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2.5.3 Cooperatives

There are six Primary Land Development Banks, 35 branches of

District Central Co-operative Banks, two Urban Banks, 167 Primary

Agricultural Credit Societies, 104 Primary fishermen cooperative societies

(men-57, women-47), 30 Housing Cooperative Societies, 76 Employees

Cooperative Societies, one Lift Irrigation Society, 36 Weavers Co-operative

Societies, 16 Industrial Co-operative Societies, 22 Khadi & Village Industries

Societies, eight Primary Co-operative Societies, one Co-operative Sugar Mill,

four Co-operative Marketing Societies and one South Arcot district co-operative

Federation.

2.5.4 Industrial Infrastructure

Compilation of important industries in Cuddalore district with

location and product is given below:

1. Neyveli Lignite Corporation , Neyveli- Thermal Power Station

2. MRK Sugar Mill, Sethiathope,- Sugar Mills

3. EID Parry (I) Ltd, Nellikuppam, - Sugar Mills

4. Ambika Sugar Mills, Pennadam, - Sugar Mills

5. TANFAC, Cuddalore OT- Chemicals

6. Vanavil , Cuddalore OT - Chemicals

7. National Cotton Mills, Chidambaram, - Textiles

8. SPIC Pharma Chemicals , Cuddalore OT- Pharma and

Chemicals

9. Asian Paints(I) Limited, Cuddalore OT- Paints and Chemicals

10. Tagros Chemicals (I) LTD., Cuddalore OT- Chemicals

11. Clariant Chemicals LTD., Cuddalore OT- Chemicals

There is one Industrial Park by State Industrial Promotion

Corporation of Tamil Nadu (SIPCOT), Cuddalore OT and three Small Industries

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Development Corporation (SIDCO) industrial complexes at Cuddalore,

Vriddhachalam and Vadalur.

2.6 TOPOGRAPHY, SOIL AND AGRO-CLIMATE ZONES

The district, for the most part, is a flat plain, sloping gently from

north to south and from west to east, towards the sea. The only hill in the district

is the Mount Capper hill near Cuddalore. The Mount Capper plateau, just west

of C

south-south-westwards to near Shrimushnam (figure 2.3). Mount Capper is the

only part which can be termed as a prominent feature in the landscape and even

this is only about a hundred feet above mean sea level. For the rest, the course of

the formation, where it has not been cut away by the rivers which pass through

it, may be traced by the red soil to which it gives rise and which is some of the

most unfertile in the district (South Arcot District Gazetteer -1961).

The geomorphology of the Cuddalore coastal stretch includes the

coastal plain with an average width of 6 km. Its coastal landforms include

strand-lines, raised beaches, sand dunes, mangrove swamps and tidal flats with

predominantly sandy beaches on the northern side and mangrove swamps to the

south. The coastal towns of Cuddalore in the North and Porto Novo

(Parangipettai) in the South are the most densely populated along this region.

The soils of the district can be divided into three main classes namely,

the black of regur, the red ferruginous and the Arenaceous. The black soil

prevails largely in the Chidambaram, Vriddhachalam and Cuddalore Taluks.

The Arenaceous occurs chiefly near the coast in the Taluks of Chidambaram and

Cuddalore. Black clay is the most fertile kind of soil, the loam is the next best

and the red sand & Arenaceous soils are the poorest. The total red soil comprises

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of -3,67,791 hectare, Sandy clay loam -1,28,573 hectare, Clay loam -1,15,565

hectare, sandy loam -91,679 hectare and sandy soil -31,974 hectare in Cuddalore

district. The agro climatic zones are shown in figure 2.4 (DAP Cuddalore-

2008).

Figure 2.4 Cuddalore Agro-climate Zones

(Source: DAP, Cuddalore TNAU)

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2.7 METEOROLOGY

The district receives total rainfall of 1104 mm. It includes both the

south west (373 mm) and north east (731 mm) monsoons. The maximum

recorded temperature of the district is 36.80 C while minimum temperature is

19.90 C. The season-wise rainfall for the last decade is given in table 2.2. North

east monsoon is the wettest period of the year when cyclonic activities in the

Bay of Bengal bring in the rainfall. An analysis of the annual cyclones (C) and

Severe Cyclonic Storms (SCS) in the Bay of Bengal region given in IMD e-

Atlas, clearly indicates that although the frequency of cyclones has decreased in

the recent years (after 1980s) there is a marginal increase in the occurrence of

SCS (figure 2.5), which in turn implies the increased magnitude.

Table 2.2 Season wise Rainfall in Cuddalore District

SL. No.

Year South West (mm) North East (mm) Total (mm)

1 2003 434.0 915.7 1349.7

2 2004 437.9 908.5 1346.4

3 2005 340.3 1346.1 1686.4

4 2006 246.5 1007.3 1253.8

5 2007 330.5 837.7 1168.2

6 2008 280.8 1136.5 1417.3

7 2009 278.0 960.5 1238.5

8 2010 362.9 1043.7 1406.6

9 2011 424.6 873.4 1298.0

10 2012 245.5 587.8 833.3 (Source: IMD)

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2.8 LAND USE AND LAND HOLDING

The land use pattern of the Cuddalore district for the last two years is

given in the Table 2.3 and aerial extent of land cover for Cuddalore coastal area

derived from satellite imagery analysis is given in figure 2.6. The land holdings

have been classified into marginal, small and large categories and the details are

given in table 2.4. It could be noted from the table above that, while 78.73% of

farmers are marginal, they operate only in about 38% of the area. On the other

hand, the small farmers accounting for 13.66% operate in 25.07% of the area.

However, the farmers accounting for 7.61% cultivate in 36.93% of the area.

Table 2.3 Land Use Pattern of Cuddalore District

Sl. No

Nature of use 2009-10 2010-11 Area

(hectare) (%) Area

(hectare) (%)

1 Forest lands 1415 0.38 1415 0.38 2 Barren and Uncultivable waste 14623 3.98 14623 3.98 3 Land put to Non-Agricultural

uses 58789 15.98 58792

15.99 4 Cultivable Waste 5946 1.62 5869 1.60 5 Permanent and grazing land 604 0.16 604 0.16 6 Land under misc, tree crops and

groves not included in net Area sown

16664 4.53 15859

4.31 7 Current fallows 33476 9.10 34431 9.36 8 Other fallow lands 18236 4.96 18857 5.13 9 Net area sown 218028 59.28 217331 59.09 Total 367781 100.00 367781 100.00

(Source: SCR 2010-11)

Table 2.4 Land Holding Pattern of the Farmers

Sl. No.

Size class of holdings in Hectares

Farmers Holdings Number (%) Area (Ha) (%)

1 Below 1.00 2,42,959 78.73 87,455 38.00 2 1.01-2.00 42,142 13.66 57,680 25.07 3 2.01and above 23,504 7.61 84,985 36.93 Total 308605 100.00 230120 100.00

(Source: RAC-2005-06)

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2.9 CROPPING PATTERN

The major crops cultivated in Cuddalore district are Paddy,

Sugarcane, Maize, Black gram, Green gram and Groundnut. The area under

crops (rainfed and irrigated) and for Kuruvai/Kharif (summer) and Samba/Rabi

(winter) seasons are given in table 2.5.

Table 2.5 Cropping Pattern in Cuddalore District (2011-2012)

Sl. No.

Name of the crop

Area (ha) (Rainfed / Dry)

Area (ha) (Irrigated /

Source)

Season

1 Paddy 667 113529 Kharif/Rabi

2 Maize 1400 56 Kharif/Rabi

3 Bajra 1097 229 Kharif/Rabi

4 Ragi 20 106 Kharif/Rabi

5 Greengram 1302 24 Kharif/Rabi

6 Blackgram 21944 412 Kharif/Rabi

7 Chillies 0 53 Kharif

8 Turmeric 0 105 -

9 Onion 0 110 Kharif

10 Banana 3000 1256 -

11 Sugarcane 0 39234 -

12 Sesame 2470 426 Kharif/Rabi

13 Groundnut 10048 12541 Kharif/Rabi

14 Coconut 700 2056 -

15 Cotton 831 425 Kharif

16 Flowers 0 759 -

17 Others 44582 10681 -

Total 88061 182002 - (Source: SCR 2010-11)

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2.10 HYDRAULICS AND HYDRODYNAMICS

Tamil Nadu has seventeen major river basins as shown in figure 2.7.

All the rivers of the state are seasonal in nature. Tamil Nadu is water stressed

state where almost full irrigation potential of available ground and surface

irrigation water has been exploited.

Figure 2.7 Tamil Nadu River Basin Map (Source: IWS, TN SCRSA, WRO, PWD)

2.10.1 Drainage Pattern

Cuddalore district is endowed with the following five river basins

(figure 2.8) from north to south 1) Pambai River Basin; 2) Pennaiyar river basin;

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3) Gadilam river basin; 4) Vellar river basin; and 5) Cauvery- Coleroon river

basin.

Figure 2.8 Cuddalore River Basin Map Showing watersheds

Almost all the rivers of the district flow east into the Bay of Bengal.

The Ponnaiyar or the Pennar rises in the Chenna Kesava hill, east of Nandidurg

in Mysore, Karnataka State, travels eastwards and finally joins the sea about 5

kms north of Cuddalore town. The Malattar, which takes off from the right of

the Ponnaiyar in Villupuram district, divides itself into two branches just before

it leaves Thirukoilur Taluk (figure 2.8). Its southern and major branch joins the

Gadilam. The Gadilam rises in the eastern part of the Tirukkoyilur Taluk, enters

the Cuddalore district where the seasonal river Malattar comes and joins it on

the right, flows past Panruti (figure 2.8) and through Tiruvendipuram and

Cuddalore and joins the Bay of Bengal. The river suddenly turns to the south,

runs to the east of Cuddalore OT which stands on the edge of the backwater

formed at the junction of the mouths of the Gadilam & the Uppanar and flows

over a bar into the sea. Ordinarily the Gadilam is dependent on local rain and

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during the floods; it receives a dangerously large supply from the Ponnaiyar

through the Malattar. It carries very fertile silt and has four Anicut across it

which help in irrigation. In ancient days it was called the Kedilam meaning a

as Garudanadi.

The Uppanar, or the Paravanar, takes its source in the Vriddhachalam

Taluk, flows eastwards along the boundary between the Cuddalore and the

Chidambaram Taluks and joins the Bay by the mouth of the Gadilam just to the

south of Cuddalore OT. It is largely a drainage channel for the land irrigated by

the Sethiyathope Anicut across the Vellar. Its water often backs up and floods

the land along its sides. The Kudivaiyar is a small stream in Cuddalore Taluk

which joins the Uppanar close to its mouth near the Bay.

The Vellar (White river) is formed about four miles west of

Thozhudur in the Vriddhachalam Taluk, by the junction of two rivers, namely,

the Vasishtanadi and Swetanadi which rise in the Salem district. Vellar flows

through the Vriddhachalam Taluk where it receives a considerable tributary, the

Manimuktanadi about four miles east of Shrimushnam, which is made up of the

Mani and the Mukta streams that drain the northern part of the eastern slopes of

mouth river) and the Mayuranadi

(Peacock river) that rise in the southern portion of the hills. These rivers have

cut for themselves deep clefts with often precipitous sides in the valleys, notably

in the Tumbe valley down which the Manimuktar flows. The confluence of the

Gomukhanadi and the Mayuranadi at Nallur is held to be holy and a picturesque

little temple has been built on an island at the spot. After it is joined by the

Manimuktar, the Vellar flows through the Chidambaram Taluk and joins the sea

immediately south of Porto Novo (Parangipettai). The Vellar receives little

supply from the south-west monsoon, but the north-east monsoon gives adequate

supply towards the latter part of the year. Its banks are often high and steep and

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are affected by the tide for about seven or eight miles above its mouth at Porto

Novo (Parangipettai).

2.10.2 Irrigation and Ground Water

The sources of irrigation in this district are wells, tanks and canals.

Wells (open and tube well) are the major source of irrigation and cover 56

percent of the area. There are about 93,000 Tube Wells, 8,700 open wells, 6,525

PWD/minor irrigation tanks and about 860 other sources.

Table 2.6 Sources of Irrigation in Cuddalore District

Sources Net area irrigated Gross area irrigated

Net Area (ha) Percentage Total (ha) Percentage

Canals 44,541 30.08 47,150 26.34

Tanks 4,952 3.34 5,900 3.30

Tube Wells 87,562 59.14 1,14,338 63.87

Open wells 10,512 7.10 10,751 6.01

Other sources 485 0.34 883 0.48

Total 1,48,052 100.00 1,79,022 100.00 (Source- SCR 2010-11)

2.11. FISHERIES

Cuddalore District has high potential for marine as well as inland and

brackish water fisheries. The district has a coastline of 68 kms. Fish are plentiful

in the tanks. The marine fisheries provide a living for a large number of

persons. Pomfret, seer fish and mullet are among the better known kinds of fish

and the oysters of the Cuddalore backwaters enjoy a more than local fame. There

are 8104 ha of inland water resources, 5986 ha of major irrigation and long

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seasonal tanks, 312 ha of Fish Farmers Development Agency (FFDA) tanks,

1,000 ha of derelict water and 806 hectare of Aquaculture farms.

45 marine fishermen villages are located in the district with total

marine fishermen population of 47,000 of which active fishermen are around

23,840. The total members in the marine fishermen cooperative societies are

15,133 and members of fisherwomen cooperative societies are 13,094. The

fishing fleet of Cuddalore District includes 606 mechanized boats, 1010

motorized country crafts and 5580 traditional crafts (Tamil Nadu Marine

Fisherfolk Census 2010). There are three fish landing centres for mechanized

boats in Cuddalore, Parangipettai and Mudasalodai. There are 28 Inland

Fishermen Cooperatives Societies with a total membership of 2600 fishermen

and 400 fisherwomen. In the inland sector, there are 15 fish rearing centres in

the private sector. There are 164 shrimp aqua farms with 366.41 hectare water

spread area. In the inland fish landings, Catla, Rohu, Mrigal, common carp,

silver carp and fresh water prawns are important.

2.12 GEOLOGY AND MINING

The general geological formation of the district is simple with

metamorphic rocks belonging to the gneiss family. Resting on these are the three

great groups of sedimentary rocks belonging to different geological periods and

overlaying each other in regular succession from the coast on the east to the hills

on the west. The lowest of these groups is the fossil-bearing cretaceous

limestone around Pondicherry and Vriddhachalam. Above this comes a younger

form the Red hills near Pondicherry and the Mount Capper hills south-west of

Cuddalore. Uppermost are the alluvial beds of the deltas of rivers. There is

every reason to believe that this order of the strata has existed unaltered through

a long geological period; that in fact, since the beginning of the time when the

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oldest of the sedimentary beds, these of cretaceous age, were deposited. No

disturbance of any magnitude has remodelled or effaced the main features of the

district (South Arcot Gazetteer, 1961).

Trap dykes are not common in the district. There is, however, a

regular assemblage of small basaltic trap dykes at Thozhudur where the NH-45

crosses the Vellar and a large dyke about eight kms long across the same river

about 6 kms west of Thozhudur. There is a good artesian basin in the district

occupying a few square kms around Neyveli, Aziznagar and Kavanur near

Vriddhachalam. There are apparently three or four distinct water bearing

horizons here, all in the Cuddalore sandstones and there are a number of flowing

wells in this area.

Gneiss, trap and sandstone are the main minerals of the district.

Gneiss is used for building purposes with excellent results especially in the

temples. Its susceptibility to fine carving is exemplified in the chains cut from it

which may be seen in the shrine at Srimushnam and the great temple at

Chidambaram. Trap is scarcely used for building purposes because of its

intractable hardness and inherent moisture absorbing quality. Sandstone is used

for building purposes as well as for making mortars, troughs, etc. Besides these

minerals, laterite occurs over a wide belt of country between Pondicherry and

Vriddhachalam (notably on Mount Capper), in the red soil tract around

Srimushnam and to the east of Vriddhachalam. It is largely used for building

purposes and road making.

There are a large number of clay deposits in the district. White clay

occurs in many places. It is exposed in the deep ravines below an overburden of

35 feet of sandstones and grits at Pannikappam, south of Panruti and just south

of the Gadilam river. It burns to a pale grey colour, it is refractory and its

shrinkage is high, being 40 percent. Lignite has been found to occur mainly in

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two areas, the Aziznagar area (110 0

(110 790

area of more than 200 square kms and the estimated quantity is above 2,000

million tons.

2.13 STUDY AREA

The study area has been shown in figure 2.9 in which (a) is a map of

the entire Cuddalore District (42km coastline) and (b) is the site specific study

area (14km coastline) within the Cuddalore District used for delineating the

composite hazard line on a pilot scale and conducting the vulnerability mapping.

The coastal geomorphology of this region includes sandy beaches on the

northern and mangrove swamps on the southern stretch of the coast. The major

geomorphic features of this coastal stretch comprise of upland plain, flood plain,

deltaic plain and coastal plains. The coastal plain has a width of 6 km and

exhibits different geomorphic features, which include strandlines, raised

beaches, sand dunes, mangrove swamps and tidal flats. The coastal towns of

Cuddalore and the adjacent Porto Novo are also the most densely populated

along this coastal region.

The study area is spread over nine revenue villages and one town

panchayat. There are 19 fishing habitations along the coastline in the study area.

The study area starts just south of the Cuddalore O.T. SIPCOT industrial area

and has a major industrial establishment- Nagarjuna Oil Refinery. Fishing and

allied activities are the main source of livelihood in the area with minimum

extent under cultivation. The coastal belt earlier had good cashew and casurina

plantations which have been progressively diminishing to give way for other

activities.

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Figure 2.9 Study Area Map in Cuddalore district, Tamil Nadu.

The study area is highly prone to cyclones and flooding. Almost

every year the local population faces cyclonic storms and coastal inundation,

particularly during the monsoon between October and December. Further, it was

one of the worst affected areas due to tsunami that had occurred during 2004 in

which large scale human and cattle deaths and extensive damage to fishing

assets and houses were reported. This stretch of coast was selected as study area

due to greater risk exposure and the recurrent history of hazard and disaster with

significant extent of losses suffered by the population.