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Andaman and Nicobar now 3 metres closer

Some areas have gone down by a metre

NEW DELHI: The Andaman and Nicobar Islands are now about three metres closer to the mainland coast than it was pre-tsunami. Some areas of the Islands have gone down by up to one metre, scientists said here on Monday.

Discussing the topographical changes due to the December 26 tsunami, Department of Ocean Development Secretary Harsh Gupta told mediapersons that the tsunami caused the Indian Plate to go under the Burmese Plate.

The Burmese coast also moved closer to the Andaman coast by about three metres, he said.

Post-tsunami, clay and silica particles had got deposited on corals in the Andamans, which had got considerably damaged. It would take a longer time to settle, he said.

Thus, there was a need for long-term monitoring of the corals in middle and South Andamans, Mr. Gupta said. There was no significant loss of corals in the Gulf of Mannar.

Salinity on the Tamil Nadu coast had increased and it would take about two rainy seasons for it to subside, an official said. Due to land subduction, vast agricultural land was wasted in the Andamans.

The studies also showed that fish catch on the South West coast had decreased from 1500 kg to 300 kg post-tsunami. However, there was an increase in fish catch at the North East from nine kg to 125 kg.

The Kerala coast had also shown low nutrients, he said.

The area with thick mangrove vegetation in the Andamans was the least-affected.

PTI

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