History encrypted into those ‘inactive’ boulders

From Dummingkuppam to Srinivasapuram, the liminal zone between the Marina Loop Road and the seashore

From Dummingkuppam to Srinivasapuram, the liminal zone between the Marina Loop Road and the seashore plays a reluctant host to loosely scattered boulders. These stones are as presentable as a hirsute, slovenly deadbeat; and as useful as a professional that has opted out of the rat race long ago. These boulders have to go — the Greater Chennai Corporation should give thought to having them cleared — as they have clearly outlived their purpose and long lost their raison d’etre. Clearing the boulders would give residents ease of movement — a point mentioned by a handful of them.

However, before they are carted away, these boulders need to be rolled over and studied with magnifying eye glasses for the “history” encrypted into them. A rich oral history around these stones is in the safe-keeping of residents. However, as with all oral histories, accounts of what these stones meant to that section of the beach can sometimes be as patchy as Internet in an area that is almost a WiFi dead zone.

Residents point out these stones were part of a line of protection against a marauding sea in the late-1970s and 1980s. One of them raises a hand to show the boulder pile-ups were of an imposing height.

A report “Studies on Permanent Solution for Sea Erosion” in The Hindu (dated August 29, 1980) notes that “a grave threat arose this year” when the waters invaded the land, between May and July, “washing away” the road from Dummingkuppam to Srinivasapuram. Needless to say, there was a scare for residents living in dwellings nearby.

With inputs from the engineers of Public Works Department, the report adds: “If the houses are to be saved from future erosion, some protective measures like creating a wall of rubble mounds as in Royapuram would have to be started immediately.”

The report quotes the residents: “We are used to these visitations during November every year but this year they occurred between May and July and this is the first time that the road has been eaten away like this.” The road mentioned in the report is the Marina Loop Road.

Earlier, a report (August 26, 1977) in The Hindu reads: “Tidal waves, at times reaching six to ten feet high, have been lashing the areas since Wednesday night. A portion of the raised footpath, to a length of about 100 metres and concrete slabs supporting it, have been wrenched away by the waves which have also jagged the earth below the road to some distance. The entire road has been closed for traffic. As night fell, the sea became choppy. A large posse of constables was keeping vigil.” The report refers to the road as Santhome Bypass Road.