Tsunami News
MAY 2005
Expedition by top researchers to study tsunamis
by The Daily Telegram, Port Blair
17 May 2005
Leading production house Darlow Smithson, television channels Discovery and BBC, have come together to cover an unprecedented expedition by a team of top scientists to explore the sea-bed site of Asian tsunami with a view to study the causes behind the 2004 tidal waves.
The team comprising the world's foremost scientific authorities, including seismologists, geophysicists, biologists and seabed-visualisation experts, will spend 17 days aboard the MV Performer, a deep-water research ship in the Indian Ocean.
"This ambitious exploration three miles below the Indian Ocean will provide hard scientific findings that will help scientists predict future tsunamis and therefore minimise the devastation and loss of life", Phil Fairclough of Discovery Channel, said in a statement here.
Cameras would be sent deep into the abyss to witness the first-hand collision between the earth's crystal plates. The team would take on scientific research with the aim of providing accurate warning of when and where the next tsunami may hit. The expedition will be covered as a two-hour special programme `Journey to the Heart of Tsunami' and will air on Discovery Channel India towards the end of 2005.
Tsunami study shows decline in marine catches
by ASHOK B. SHARMA
Indian Society For Sustainable Agriculture <
indiansocietyag@yahoo.co.in
9 May 2005
The study, conducted by the department of ocean development, says that the tsunami has resulted in salinity on the coast and reduction in marine catches. There was not much damage to the coastal biodiversity, except to the coral reef in central and south Andamans. Least damages and casualties were marked in areas adequately covered by mangroves and sand dunes.
The study was conducted by a team of scientists under the leadership of ocean development secretary Dr Harsh Gupta.
Making the study public before the media here on Monday, Union minister for science and technology and ocean development Kapil Sibal said, "We will set up a tsunami warning system in the country by September 2007. The country has the capabilities like a good seismic network, research vessels, bathymetry surveys, tide guages, data buoys, sattellites, communication technologies, networking and modelling. The centre will be set up in Hyderabad and reduce false alarms to the extent of 70%."
The study was conducted on board Sagar Kanya, Sagar Sampada, Sagar Purvi and Sagar Paschimi.
The major findings are:
• Marine catches decreased from 1,500 kg to 300 kg at the southwest coast off Andamans. However, the catches increased from 9 kg to 125 kg on the northeast coast off Andamans. Reduction in demersal fish catches in southwest Andamans.
• Corals and coral reef in good conditions in northeast Andamans. Damages done to coral reef and fauna in central and middle Andamans. No significant impact on corals in Gulf of Mannar.
• Penetration of high salinity water in the upper 100 metre in the Arabian Sea. Coastal soil salinity may take some time to be wiped off. Low salinity water pockets noticed around 6 degree north from equator.
• Suspended particles in water noticed on the southwest and southeast coasts. It will take some time to clean off.
• Disturbances of seafloor sediments due to turbulent interaction of tsunami waves.
• Near-coast areas between Kollam and Kochi most affected due to relatively narrow shelf.
• High silicate and low nitrate values for surface waters marked on the southwest and on the Andaman-Nicobar coasts.
• Significant reduction in numerical abundances of macrobenthic fauna on the southwest coast.
• Noticeable changes in the community structure of zooplankton with predominance of carnivorous forms marked in Andaman & Nicobar Islands.
• Damage to structures in Andaman & Nicobar other than Little Andaman were due to earthquake. In southern islands due to tsunami.
• Low nutrients observed along Kerala coast.
• Shifting of benthic organisms along Tamil Nadu coast.
• No major deviation in general oceanographic features. But many islands of Andaman & Nicobar group shifted southeastwards. Many stations in Andaman & Nicobar Islands showed levels of subsidences while Govindgarh and Ramakrishnapur were raised on joint impact of earthquake-tsunami.
The 2-rupee-payout rumour explained
Andaman and Nicobar administration press release
3 May 2005
|
Editor's note: 2 Indian rupees (Rs.) is a minute amount, equivalent at the time of writing to (roughly) US dollars 0.035, Euros 0.035, Swiss Francs 0.055 or British Pounds 0.025 There was a story going around that a woman in the Nicobar islands had received the absurd amount of 2 rupees in compensation for her losses suffered in the tsunami of December 2004. The following is the official statement on the matter. |
There was a media report mentioning about payment of Rs. 2/- to a tsunami victim. The Administration of the Andaman and Nicobar islands has conducted an enquiry into the matter. The findings indicated that Smt. Charity, who was quoted in the news item as recipient of the Rs. 2/-, belongs to the Champion Village in Nancowry Islands, is a victim of the tsunami disaster. As per the pattern of assistance approved by the government, she was given Rs. 10,000/- on account of loss of household articles, Rs. 3,000/- as temporary relief and Rs. 2,000 in cash from the Lt. Governor's Relief Fund. She is being provided ration items from 26th December, 2004. Non-edible items like tent, clothings, utensils and general items for daily use and additional facilities like LPG gas and stove and household items are also being provided. She has also been provided with an intermediate shelter.
In addition to the above, Smt. Charity was paid an amount of Rs. 112/- as compensation for her 5 coconut trees. The amount was later recalculated to Rs. 114/- and the additional amount of Rs. 2/-, payable to her, was paid in cheque. The amount of Rs. 114/- was calculated as per the Govt. of India norms for plantation crop loss.
Administration lauds its efforts at reconstruction
from THE DAILY TELEGRAMS, Port Blair
http://www.and.nic.in/thursday.htm
3 May 2005
The Union Minister of State for Home, Shri Sri Prakash Jaiswal inaugurated 237 units of intermediate shelters for the tsunami-affected families at Bambooflat this morning. The Members of Parliament, Shri Manoranjan Bhakta and Dr Sanjay Singh were also present on the occasion.
Addressing the gathering, the minister expressed his happiness for the timely construction of the intermediate shelters of about 10,100 units at different places in the islands in just one and a half months time. He also noted with appreciation the efforts of the NGOs in the construction of intermediate shelters in non-tribal areas like Campbell Bay, Hutbay and South Andaman.
The Minister said that the UPA government is fully committed to the post-disaster rehabilitation in a time bound manner and the central government will provide adequate financial and other support to the UT of A & N for the complete rebuilding of these islands.
Member of Parliament, Shri Manoranjan Bhakta, in his address expressed his gratitude to the central government for giving timely financial and other support to these islands which has resulted the speedy restoration of life for the earthquake and tsunami affected people.
Speaking on the occasion, the Adhyaksh, Zilla Parishad, Shri R Chidambaram assured that Zilla Parishad with its full fledged engineering wing will actively participate with the administration for the speedy completion of post disaster rehabilitation works.
The Chief Secretary, Shri D S Negi, said that NGOs, PRIs and the village communities play a vital role in the rebuilding process and the A & N Administration shall not spare any effort to provide relief and rehabilitation works in all the affected areas of these islands till the last phase is completed.
Earlier, Dr Madhu Krishan, the chief Coordinator of Govt. and NGOs coordination committee, while welcoming the gathering, gave a detailed account of the budgetary provisions and various types of infrastructures to be created in the post-tsunami situation at different places. The Commissioner-cum-Secretary (PW), Shri Naresh Kumar proposed the vote of thanks on the occasion. Out of the 237 shelters inaugurated today, 57 were constructed by OXFAM NGO while the other 180 units were built by World Vision in association with the A & N Administration.
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