Tsunami Investigation Reports

7/29/2019 Tsunami Investigation Reports

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Impact Assessment of Tsunami 2004

: Tamil Nadu , India

A Socio Economic Approach.


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Dr. Mrs. K. JayashreeProfessor of Geography

Queen Marys College,

Chennai, INDIA.

Email: [email protected]
mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]


3/22

The recent Tsunami that struck South-east Asian

countries is a rarest of rare earth dynamics. The wegenerstheory of Plate Tectonics proved significantly correct

indicating earths re-adjustments would be disastrous and

cause calamity to humanity. Experts say the bungling of

marine ecological system would have long term impact.

The first environmental assessment of a range of

coastal ecosystems along the south coast of India were

initiated by various organizations, including the NGOsproviding some preliminary observations on the nature and

scale of the tsunamis impact on their biophysical character.


4/22

After Tsunami: The Physical Impacts,

Tamil Nadu, India1) As high as 30,000 hectares of cauvery delta area has

turned saline, making the land unfit for cereal

cropping. The area needs reclaimation.

2) The winter crops on coastal area especially in

districts of Nagapattinam, Tiuvarur, Cuddalore, as

20,000 hectares were inundated.

3) Casurina saplings, groundnut and horticultural

crops raised in areas at Kodiyakarai in Cuddalore

district have withered.


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4) Having lost the standingcrops, the crop loss estimatemay even touch 5-7 crores ofrupees.

5) The agricultural activitieswere halted at 123 coastalvillages in Nagapattinamdistrict 53 villages at

Cuddalore district. Farmerssay, that, the cultivation couldnot be taken up for a fewyears in view of salinity ofsoil.

6) In few districts, the Paddyfields in some areas were sandcast up to a height of 15cms.

7) The water in wells far awayfrom the sea have also becomesaline.


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8) The most significant changecaused by is the cartographicchanges; that is entire Indian

continent was dragged to east by9mm.

9) The entire marine ecology alongTamilnadu has been shattered.

10) Though Nagapattinam andTiruvarur districts were knownfor their natural drainage system,the silted canals and tall bundsput up by aqua culture farms

contributed to water clogging forseveral hours in some areas. Thesea breeze added to the farmerswoes. Though the coconut, andcashew grooves withstood theonslaught.


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11) The coastal fresh water bodies have become saline, due to slamming of

ocean waves over them.

12) The soil chemistry on the coastal & neighbouring areas has changed,

from its original nature.

13) The texture and the composition of beach sand has changed.

14) LTL, HTL (low tide level and hide tide level) of coast has been

changed, observably.

15) The extent of Marine fishing area has been reduced observably.


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16) The Two esturine mouths ofAdyar and Cooum rivers havebeen widened, the sand bars at

the mouth area were washedaway, allowing free mix ofwater of sea and river.

17) The width of the beach has been

reduced, because the shorelinehas been brought forward fewmetres.

18) Many coastal tourist spots havelost their attraction and charm

hence the tourism income alsohas been reduced drastically.Income coss loss may beestimated at 15 to 20 crores.


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19) Over night, the word Tsunami had become the

buzzword of entire Indian humanity.

20) The economic slump caused by Tsunami in the

sectors like agriculture and industries has affected

the normal economic life.


10/22

Tsunami - Economic impacts

1. The fishing economy along thecoast has been seriouslyendangered. Thousands offishermen were missing, losttheir fishing equipment, likenets, fishing boats, rowing rodsetc.

2. The imports and exports ofmarine products like fish,prawns, coral reeds, oysters,pearl fishing etc were

jeopardized.3. Heavy monetary and property

loss was found at ChennaiHarbour. The cargo sheds ofthe Chennai Port have beendevastated beyond repair.


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4. The reconstruction and

restructuring of what has

been lost would impair the on

going projects of future

extension or developmental

programmes.

5. Recapitalizing the damaged

industrial units is a daunting

task.


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Estimated Loss of Tsunami, INDIA

(Direct Costs)Human loss - 13,000-15,000

Missing Population - >45,000

No. affected - 2,50,000

Homeless - 3.75 lakhsMaterial Loss - 1.5 billion

House broken - 6.7 lakhs

Fishing boats - 45,000

Merchant ships - 796Lenth of Railway

lines - 12,000 kms

Loss to Chennai fort

& Harbour - 50 crores


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Bridges of

Causeways - 57

Raw cargo - 1.2 lakh tons

Natural forests - 200 sq .km

Mangrove Forests - 500 sq .km

Marine life - l lakh tons

Private Property - 2.3 Billions

Live stock loss - 11,683 cows + 10721 sheep +

9788 goats

Poultry loss - Rs. 2 millions

Fish production - 20.30 million tonsFishing Nets - 5 crores worth

Fishing Motor - 1576

Crop Loss - 5 to 6 crores.


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Tsunami - Virtual loss (Intangible loss)

1. Psychologicallydepressed people - >3 Lakh

2.Water phobia affected

people & children - >1.2 Lakh

3. Parent less children - >7.5 thousand

4. Widows - 4.2 thousands

5. Widowers - 1.3 thousands


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6.Mentally depressed

and stressed people - 12,000

7.Emotional, anxiety, anguish, pathos - >1 lakh

affected people

8.No.of alcoholics - 47,000

9.Drugs intake - Considerably

increased

10.Juvenile Criminals - increased by 30%


16/22

Tsunami - Food

The tsunami waves caused seriousdamage to irrigation structures,

canals and embankments, and

flood protection facilities along the

river mouth. Many farmers report

lost rice harvests, and rice paddies

have been contaminated by saltwater and sludge.

All irrigation systems along

Tamilnadu coast were severely

damaged by the sudden struck

of tsunami, where the damagewas greater in secondary and

tertiary canal systems than in

head works and main canals


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.


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Tsunami - Public Infrastructure Damage

The total irrigation area damaged is estimated approximately 28000hain province (9.6% of the total irrigated). Damage to irrigation systems

and rice fields may cause huge loss of rice production per year. Two to

three years may be needed to bring normal productivity back.

All flood control and coastal structures near the coast ofKanyakumari were severely damaged by the tsunami, including up to

271kilometres upstream many rivers in Kanyakumari district had real

hard hit. Similarly the tsunami damaged completely many state and

National highway.

The number and severity of destroyed public facilities was massive.

Two major ports in Chennai and Tuticorin are completely out of function.

Damage to government offices and hospitals hindered a coordinated

response during the first month of emergency relief.


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Tsunami- Livelihoods

The livelihoods of hundreds of thousands of people have beenaffected. Examples include:

An estimated 42,000 hectares of prawn/fish farms along thecoast have been lost, diminishing investments and

opportunities for small scale businesses. Land tenure is now uncertain for many families who used

to live in the coastal strip.

Uncertainties regarding the future of rice farming, coconutplantations fish farms and open sea fishing (due to damage of

fishery equipments). Lost assets, belonging and livelihood security possibilities,

especially along the coastal strip, all of which may result inhigher dependency on natural resources.


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Tsunami Disturbed Ecosystem and

Ground Water

Many natural ecosystems

(mangroves, coral reefs, near

shore zones including fishfarms, freshwater reservoirs

and the coastal strip) have

been heavily damaged,

leaving them more

vulnerable to possible futureevents such as high tides.


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Strategies and Solutions1) Establishing a global warning system for Tsunamis in

Indian Ocean should be mad mandatory, to protect the humanity

from another killers tsunami.

2) Economic activities along the coast, including tourism

development should be regulated under a uniform Nationalpolicy

3) Permanent houses, leaving a safety distance (500m) from sea

shore should be constructed.

4) Afforestation, is the only method through which, loss can beminimize.

5) The protection of natural forests along the coast, stringent forest

policies should be adopted.


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) Reduction of residential colonies along the sea coast wouldminimize the human loss and banning of residential colonies

with in 200 meters.

) Advanced technology should be adopted at seismic stations,

meteorological stations, especially oceanographic research

centres.

Technical coordination between developed and developing

countries may certainly improve the forecasting situations.

) More significantly, tsunami awareness and related

Documents

Tsunami Investigation Reports