Chennai, Nov 5 (NationPress) In an effort to enhance urban flood readiness, the Tamil Nadu Fisheries Department has released a tender to acquire nearly 200 fibre-reinforced plastic (FRP) coracles intended for deployment in flood emergencies across urban areas.

Each coracle is estimated to cost approximately Rs 13,000 and will be utilized in regions where floodwaters are expected to be relatively shallow. Officials revealed that the tender is issued on behalf of the State Disaster Management Department, which has allocated funds for this crucial initiative.

“We are set to procure both coracles and boats to bolster our flood response capabilities in urban regions. Additionally, we plan to acquire approximately 300 boats, most of which will be without engines or propellers to prevent navigation hazards caused by submerged obstacles,” an official source stated.

Each boat is projected to cost between Rs 1.5 lakh and Rs 2 lakh. The selection criteria will focus on durability, buoyancy, and load capacity.

Officials noted that this is the second call for tenders after the initial attempt did not attract enough bidders. The boats are designed to endure at least five years with minimal upkeep, as long as they are not subjected to direct sunlight.

“Once acquired, these resources will be allocated to district collectors for use during flooding events,” another official commented.

With rising incidents of urban flooding, particularly in Chennai, local fishermen's assistance has frequently been called upon for rescue missions.

“Currently, a boat rental costs about Rs 4,000 per day. Given that a new boat costs only Rs 1.5 lakh, it is more cost-effective for the government to own them,” remarked an industry expert.

He further proposed that the Fisheries Department should oversee the fleet throughout the year. “They can collaborate with the Revenue Department during floods, and during other times, the boats could serve for reservoir inspection and sampling in inland farms,” he suggested.

A former official from the Fisheries Department recounted that around 20 coracles were sourced from Mettur dam during the 2018-19 floods for use in Chennai. “In fact, a baby was once delivered in a coracle at Padappai. Due to its compact size, it is well-suited for navigating through flooded urban streets,” he reminisced.