Pulicat Lake Fishermen Suffer as Estuary Remains Blocked

In October 2025, the fishermen of Pulicat lake in Tiruvallur district are facing a dire situation. The estuary connecting the lake to the sea has been blocked by sand, preventing seawater from entering or exiting the lake. This has had a devastating impact on the lake's entire ecosystem, leaving the fishermen unable to catch any fish.

Jalandran Chettiyar, a community leader from Arangamkuppam village, now solely depends on the sea for his catch, as the lake no longer provides any fish. He laments that the two retaining walls constructed by the government to keep the estuary open have proven ineffective, as the sand has piled up. Raju Chettiyar, a community leader from Sambasu Palli Kuppam, says that with fishing near the silted-up estuary now impossible, many fishermen have been forced to take up other jobs or struggle with meager catches.

Durai Mahendran of the Tiruvallur Maavatta Paarambariya Aikiya Meenavar Sangam says that despite repeated requests, the lake has not been desilted. He warns that if the situation continues, the large waterbody that has supported thousands of fishermen could be sold off for real estate, as many unauthorized residential and industrial areas have already sprung up around the lake. Mahendran calls for a fresh study involving all stakeholders to find a permanent solution to save the Pulicat lake.