The Cuddalore District Administration is very keen to develop the tourism activities at Parangipettai, a coastal town situated remotely right on the seashore, northern bank of Vellar estuary. The Sub-Collector, Chidambaram, on his routine visit to Parangipettai identified the Vellar estuary as suitable place for operation of Water sports activities. Incidentally, the Centre of Advanced Study in Marine Biology of Annamalai University, Chidambaram has already established Aquatic Adventurous water sports facility under the aegis of University Grants Commission, Govt. of India to cater to the needs of students at Parangipettai campus since 2009. On the direction of Sub-collector, the CAS in Marine Biology, Faculty of Marine Sciences conceived the idea and drafted the proposal for setting-up of Water sports complex and later got approved by the District Administration.
Subsequently, Annamalai University entered into MoU with Parangipettai Town Panchayat to operate Water sports for general public in Vellar back waters, flowing right in front of the Centre of Advanced Study in Marine Biology campus, on revenue sharing basis. As per terms and conditions of MoU, Parangipettai town Panchayat is responsible for extending basic infrastructure at a cost of 58.80 lakhs.
Annamalai University is planning to offer regular skill development courses with credible certification, which include, for instance, courses on beach lifeguard training, water sports guide training, non-motorised water sports crafts handling training, power boat handling training, scuba diving training, etc., benefitting local fishers, tribal and other fishing dependent community to create vocational opportunities.. More importantly, through this activity, Annamalai University will also organize regular workshops/educational trips targeting Students from schools and colleges towards creating awareness on the goods and services of coastal and marine environments including mangroves, estuaries to the mankind in order to inculcate scientific temper among the young minds.
Honourable minister of Agriculture and Farmer welfare Thiru MRK Paneerselvam inaugurated the newly constructed Water sports complex. Collector Mr Balasubramaniam IAS , SP Thiru Sakthi Ganesan IPS , Additional collector Mr Pavan Kumar IAS , Subcollector Chidambaram Mr Madhubalan IAS presided over the function.
