Back to work: A labourer heads to work as salt production begins in Thoothukudi on Saturday.
| Photo Credit: RAJESH N
Pre-season preparatory works have begun at most of the salt pans in Thoothukudi district, ahead of salt production for the current year.
The preparatory work includes levelling and cleaning, repairing of bunds, soil compaction and other related works.
M. P. Dileep, a salt manufacturer from Thoothukudi said that preparatory works at the salt pans have commenced after Pongal holidays at most of the places, with manufacturers preparing to begin production by second week of February.
He added that the first crop is usually of poor quality, while better-quality salt will start to be obtained from the third crop, typically between April and May.
In recent years, unseasonal rainfall and heavy downpour has evidently affected the salt production in Thoothukudi. A few years ago the annual salt production was at 25 lakh tonnes in the district. However, last year the production crossed only 17 lakh tonnes by the mid-October.
Highlighting that only intermediate rainfall between April and May plays a crucial role in overall production of the year in the district, Mr. Dileep noted, “This year we (manufacturers) have started the preparatory works, with the hope that intermediate rainfall will not adversely affect the production.”
Speaking on labour wages, he said that it has been two years since the labourers wages were last revised and that a wage hike will be implemented this year after April, following discussions between manufactures and labour associations.
Published – January 31, 2026 08:10 pm IST
