Our Bureau

New Delhi , Jan. 7

THE Government has said that the preliminary assessment of the tsunami-affected regions in the country indicate severe damage to some "significant ecological resources".

They include mangroves, corals, forests, coastal wetlands, sand dunes, rock formations, biodiversity and groundwater. "Some of the damage to ecological assets may impact livelihood of the people," informed an official release.

This was indicated at a meeting of experts from various institutions under the chairmanship of the Secretary, Ministry of Environment and Forests, Dr Prodipto Ghosh, here. The meeting was convened to assess the damage to ecological assets in the wake of tsunami.

The evaluation of ecological damages would be undertaken in two stages. "In the first stage, rapid assessment based on pre-tsunami and post-tsunami satellite images of affected regions and available data would be undertaken by the institutions concerned to identify the damage to ecological assets, important for livelihood and habitations, which suffered significant long-term damage, but which are amenable to restoration," informed a statement.

Preliminary assessment report would be submitted within two months. On the basis of preliminary assessment, a detailed evaluation of the ecological damage would be made, in the second stage, for the identified ecological resources to develop an action plan for their restoration.

The institutions which would undertake the assessment in the first stage, include the Institute for Ocean Management, Anna University, Chennai; the Centre for Advanced Studies in Marine Biology, Annamalai University, Chidambaram; Space Application Centre, Ahmedabad; the Centre for Earth Science Studies, Thiruvananthapuram; the Forest Survey of India; the Zoological Survey of India; Botanical Survey of India; Central Water Commission; Coast Guards; and the Central Pollution Control Board.

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