Enayam Port

Tamil Research Institute
RAPID TECHNO-ECONOMIC FEASIBILITY REPORT FOR
DEVELOPMENT OF COLACHEL PORT AT TAMILNADU
FINAL REPORT
3.5.4. Occupation Pattern
As per 2001 census the total workers in the town is 7,458. Work-force constitutes 31% of the town’s total
Population. Of them male workers are 6,546 and female workers are 912. Of the total workforce in the town,
the maximum percentage is in the tertiary sector activities, which constitutes 95.08% of total workers and the
minimum is the Secondary sector, accounting for 1.58% of total workers.
Table 19::. Colachel occupation patterns
The primary sector is only 1.58%. As for as Colachel town is concerned, fishing and related trade is the major
economic activity as per 2001 census, which has brought the fishing and related activity in the other workers
category viz tertiary sector. Employment generating opportunities are lesser in this town, since the town does not
have any major industrial establishments.
3.5.4.1. Tourism
As far as the tourist attraction is concerned, Colachel is located within the administrative jurisdiction of
Kanyakumari District.
Colachel is a second grade Municipal town situated on the west coast of Kanyakumari District. It is an ancient
port town, Vasco-Da-gama called it ‘Colachi’. Before the State re-organization in1956, it was part of the
Travancore State. It was a Dutch colony which came under Travancore. After the defeat of the Dutch by King
Marthandavarma in 1751, a victory pillar had been erected near the beach in commemoration of the victory.
The Western Ghats ending into green hills perennial rivers, lotus filled tanks, dense forests with wild elephants,
extensive paddy fields, rich palm grooves, wavy coconut gardens and a carved coastal line of nearly 70 km.
length are the unique natural features of the Land's Endpromontory of India Traveling in such a small, old and
beautiful district is not only a feast to the eyes but to the mind also.
3.5.4.2. Fishing
Historically, fishing has been a major source of livelihood for some coastal and inland fishing communities. The
Fisheries sector in the area plays a crucial role in the overall economic development of the State. The rich fish
biodiversity of the project area offers good scope for fisheries development. The Fisheries sector, which started
only as a subsistence livelihood activity during the early plan period is now emerging as a vital sector,
contributing to employment generation, food security and foreign exchange earnings significantly. The fishing
grounds along this part of the southwest coast are quite extensive and very productive. The sea bottom is
generally muddy and sandy.. The 50 m depth contour is at a distance of about 25 km from the coast in our
sector. The width of the continental shelf from the shore varies from about 65 km off Kerala to about 25 Km in
the south.
The annual average fish landings along the southwest coast was 630 000 t during 1970 - 97 (see Pillai et al.
this vol.), or 37% of total Indian landings. The southwest coast ecosystem is characterized by the abundance of
oil sardine, Indian mackerel and penaeid prawns, which together contribute 45% of the landings. In addition to
CP1832-FR-AX-05-CP-Initial Environmental Examination-Ed4.docx AX05 - 74
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