Un tsunami est créé lorsqu'une grande masse d'eau est déplacée. Cela peut être le cas lors d'un séisme important, d'une magnitude de 7 ou plus, lorsque le niveau du plancher océanique le long d'une faille s'abaisse ou s'élève brutalement (voir Fig. 1), lors d'un glissement de terrain côtier ou sous-marin, ou lors d'un impact par une météorite. Il est notable qu'un fort séisme ne produit pas nécessairement un tsunami : tout dépend de la manière dont se modifie le niveau du plancher océanique aux alentours de la faille.

Le déplacement d'eau se propage de proche en proche et crée un mouvement de grande longueur d'onde (généralement quelques centaines de kilomètres) et de grande période (quelques dizaines de minutes). Lorsque la cause du tsunami a lieu près d'une côte, celle-ci peut être atteinte en moins d'une heure ; on parle alors de tsunami local.

Certains tsunamis sont capables de se propager sur des distances de plusieurs milliers de kilomètres et d'atteindre l'ensemble des côtes d'un océan en moins d'une journée. Ces tsunamis de grande étendue sont généralement d'origine tectonique, car les glissements de terrain et les explosions volcaniques produisent généralement des ondes de plus courte longueur d'onde qui se dissipent rapidement.

Il faut garder à l'esprit que ce n'est pas principalement la hauteur du tsunami qui en fait sa force destructrice mais la durée de l'élévation du niveau de l'eau et la quantité d'eau déplacée à son passage : si des vagues de plusieurs mètres de hauteur, voire d'une dizaine de mètres, sont légion sur les côtes pacifiques, elle ne transportent pas assez d'eau pour pénétrer dans les terres. Au contraire, un tsunami d'une hauteur d'un ou deux mètres peut s'avérer ravageur, car la quantité d'eau qu'il transporte lui permet de déferler jusqu'à plusieurs centaines de mètres à l'intérieur des terres si le relief est plat et sans obstacles naturels (arbres). On peut voir le phénomène sous un autre angle : une vague classique, d'une période d'au plus une minute, n'élève pas le niveau de l'eau suffisamment longtemps pour qu'il pénètre profondément, tandis que le niveau des eaux s'élève au dessus de son niveau normal pendant 5 à 30 minutes lors du passage d'un tsunami.

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Indonèsia: La costa oest de l’illa indonèsia de Sumatra, la zona més propera a l'epicentre del terratrèmol, va ser devastada pel tsunami. Més del 70% dels habitants d'alguns pobles costaners van morir. La xifra de morts en aquest país és d'unes 230.000 persones i, lamentablement, la xifra s'espera que creixi a causa de fortes pluges en Aceh que han fet augmentar el risc de còlera i altres malalties. Com a conseqüència del desastre, unes 600.000 persones estan vivint en camps de refugiats. Totes les infraestructures han desaparegut en les àrees més afectades deixant a la gent sense aigua, menjar o refugi. A més, a causa del conflicte separatista que pateix Indonèsia, les organitzacions humanitàries tenien prohibida l'entrada fins a que va ocórrer el tsunami i, una vegada han entrat, es troben amb moltes dificultats a causa de les rivalitats entre l'escamot i l'exèrcit. El conflicte d’Aceh es va iniciar en 1976 amb la creació del Moviment per a l'Alliberament d’Aceh (GAM) , i enfronta aquest escamot amb l'exèrcit indonesi. El GAM lluita per la independència d'aquesta regió per instaurar una república islàmica i, després de pràcticament 30 anys de conflicte, han mort més de 10.000 persones i el conflicte no presenta clares línies de solució. La província d’Aceh va lluitar per la independència d'Indonèsia motivada per les promeses d'autonomia fetes pel líder independentista, Ahmed Sukarno. No obstant això, després d'aconseguir-se l'objectiu en 1949, les gents d’Aceh no veurien complertes les seves expectatives i es revoltarien contra el govern de Djakarta. Ja amb l'arribada de la democràcia en 1998 i la inestabilitat del país, l'escamot del GAM augmentaria les seves accions veient la possibilitat d'assolir els seus objectius. Actualment, el conflicte no presenta vies de solució i l'exèrcit es limita a eliminar físicament el major nombre possible de guerrillers. Abans del 26 de desembre, la regió es trobava sota l'estat d'emergència i estava prohibida l'entrada tant a agències humanitàries com a la premsa internacional. Aceh és una regió rica en petroli i gas, recursos que garantitzen prop del 17% dels ingressos del país, fet pel qual el govern indonesi no està disposat a concedir la independència de la regió. Malgrat l'enfrontament, la tragèdia del tsunami ha dut els rebels i l'exèrcit a instaurar una treva per facilitar el desenvolupament de l'ajuda humanitària. No obstant això, tant uns com els altres s'acusen de no respectar-la i de rivalitzar per fer-se amb el control d'aquesta ajuda. Així, mentre el govern indonesi acusa el GAM de robar ajuda i material logístic, aquests últims denuncien que l'exèrcit ha aprofitat la treva per llançar una nova ofensiva per acabar amb l'escamot

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Sri Lanka: Sri Lanka és el país on més persones han mort com a conseqüència del tsunami després d'Indonèsia. Les costes del sud i de l'est han estat arrasades, i llars, collites i vaixells pesquers han estat completament destruïts. Unes 31.000 persones han mort i milers continuen desaparegudes. A més, prop de 1.000.000 de persones s'han quedat sense llar. En Sri Lanka també s'han produït problemes amb el repartiment de l'ajuda a causa de la zona nord-oest que controlen els rebels tamils. La desgràcia del tsunami, en lloc d'unir a les diferents ètnies, sembla que les està separant. Aquest conflicte enfronta al govern de Sri Lanka contra el grup Alliberament dels Tigres de Tamil Eelam , que va iniciar una ofensiva armada en 1983. L'objectiu d'aquest grup rebel és el d'instaurar un estat per a la població tamil resident a Sri Lanka, degut al fet que els 4.000.000 de tamils es trobaven discriminats política, econòmica i socialment pels 14.000.000 de cingalesos. Des de l'inici de les hostilitats, més de 60.000 persones han mort, centenars de milers han estat desplaçades, i l'economia de Sri Lanka s'ha vist molt perjudicada. Abans de produir-se la tragèdia del tsunami, el conflicte es trobava en una fase d'alt-el-foc després de l'acord assolit el febrer de 2002. No obstant això, aquesta situació començava a trontollar a causa d’algunes diferències en les rondes de negociacions que s'estaven portant a terme. Lamentablement, dóna la sensació que el desastre que ha sofert el país no està unint ambdós bàndols i, al contrari, s'estan aguditzant les diferències. Així, els Tigres han acusat al govern central de Colombo de retenir l'ajuda destinada a les àrees tamils del país i utilitzar el desastre com a excusa per enviar tropes a les zones governades per aquests.

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Tsunami est un terme japonais qui vient de tsu :port et nami vague ou l'inverse soit "vague de port" . Lorsqu'un séisme se produit en mer, les mouvements verticaux du fond marin engendrés par le séisme génèrent simultanément des mouvements d'eau identiques au dessus. Les masses d'eau mises en mouvement vont alors se déplacer latéralement sous la forme de vagues de grande ampleur qui vont déferler sur une côte. Les tsunamis sont principalement associés au jeu des failles normales et inverses, quant aux failles décrochantes celles-ci produisent très peu de mouvements verticaux.  Lors d'un violent séisme en mer, ce dernier va générer un train d'ondes, c'est à dire une série de vagues qui permet à l'eau de dissiper l'énergie reçue. Sa propagation peu avoir des vitesses de l'ordre de 10 à 100 m/s.  En pleine mer l'effet d'un tsunami est peu spectaculaire, la hauteur des vagues en surface se mesure plutôt en centimètres. Par contre à l'approche d'un continent, les fonds remontent, le tsunami ralentit sa course. Il se crée un "embouteillage" des ondes qui va provoquer une augmentation de l'amplitude et former en arrivant sur la côte un mur d'eau pouvant atteindre plusieurs dizaines de mètres de hauteur. Le tsunami sera particulièrement meurtrier s'il s'abat sur un littoral peuplé. Mais rassurez-vous ce scénario catastrophe ne concerne pas la Riviera du Ponente ni la côte d'Azur, Nice ne risque donc pas d'être balayée et engloutie par des vagues gigantesques. En effet, compte tenu de la topographie des fonds marins, de la masse d'eau relativement faible de la Méditerranée, de la magnitude moyenne des séismes (6.5 maximum, une valeur retenue comme étant le seuil d'alerte par le réseau de surveillance du Pacifique), ce qui donne un mouvement vertical de faible ampleur, et enfin des enseignements que nous livre la sismicité historique, les tsunamis engendrés y sont de faible amplitude. Leurs effets destructeurs sur nos côtes sont par conséquent limités. Voici réunis les principaux événements marquants connus à ce jour, aussi bien les effets de tsunamis que les raz de marée

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Raz de marée du 20 janvier 1855 : J'ai découvert au Musée Masséna une notice intitulée "Tremblement de terre du 29 décembre 1854 comparé à ceux des siècles précédents". Ce document publié en 1855, a été réalisé pour être vendu au profit des pêcheurs qui ont été victimes d'un raz de marée le 20 janvier 1855. L'auteur méconnu, précise que les effets sur Antibes étaient comparables aux descriptions connues du séisme nissart de 1564. (Voir ci dessus)   Des recherches aux Archives Départementales m'ont permis de récupérer un article de presse de l'"Avenir de Nice" du dimanche 21 janvier 1855. A la rubrique "Chronique locale" on peut lire que dans la nuit de vendredi à samedi 20 janvier 1855, vers 4 h 00 du matin, un terrible coup de mer a jeté l'épouvante dans nos parages. Les vagues ont envahi presque instantanément le rivage et ont inondé la chaussée de la terrasse et du chemin des Anglais (Promenade des Anglais), des pans de muraille ont été renversés, des lambeaux de route ont été emportés, le balcon en pierres de taille d'une des fontaines du boulevard du Midi a été soulevé et brisé, l'établissement des bains de la Méditerranée a été gravement endommagé, douze bateaux pêcheurs de Nice chargés de filets et d'agrès de pêche ont été brisés ou engloutis, trois bateaux pêcheurs de Villefranche ont été également perdus.  Il est également précisé que dans le port il y a eu un instant où la mer s'est retirée et les navires ont touché le fond. Enfin la croix du port, plantée lors du Jubilé de 1826, a été renversée. Au milieu de cet événement, ce sont les pêcheurs qui ont le plus souffert, c'est la raison pour laquelle une souscription à été ouverte en faveur des sinistrés. Parmi les personnes qui ont le plus souffert du sinistre maritimes, il y a l'ébéniste Montanari : les vagues sont venues se briser contre un hangar situé derrière son magasin et ont emporté les meubles et les bois qui s'y trouvaient.  Ce raz de marée a peut-être été provoqué par un éboulement sous marin, car il n'est pas noté de séisme en date du 20 janvier 1855. Il est bon de signaler que ce raz de marée s'est produit 22 jours après le séisme Ligure de 1854

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Debido a la gran longitud de onda estas olas siempre "sienten" el fondo (son refractadas), ya que la profundidad siempre es inferior a la mitad de la longitud de onda (valor crítico que separa las olas de agua profunda de las olas de aguas someras). En consecuencia, en todo punto del océano, la velocidad de propagación del tsunami depende de la profundidad oceánica y puede ser calculado en función de ella

En donde V es la velocidad de propagación, g la aceleración de gravedad (9.81 m /seg2) y d la profundidad del fondo marino. Para el Océano Pacífico la profundidad media es de 4.000 m, lo que da una velocidad de propagación promedio de 198 m/s ó 713 km/h. De este modo, si la profundidad de las aguas disminuye, la velocidad del tsunami decrece.

Cuando las profundidades son muy grandes, la onda de tsunami puede alcanzar gran velocidad, por ejemplo el tsunami del 4 de Noviembre de 1952 originado por un terremoto ocurrido en Petropavlosk (Kamchatka), demoró 20 horas y 40 minutos en llegar a Valparaíso en el otro extremo del Pacífico, a una distancia de 8348 millas, avanzando a una velocidad media de 404 nudos. La altura de la ola al llegar a la costa es variable, en el caso señalado en Talcahuano se registraron olas de 3.6 metros; en Sitka (Alaska) de 0.30 metros y en California de 1 metro. Al aproximarse a las aguas bajas, las olas sufren fenómenos de refracción y disminuyen su velocidad y longitud de onda, aumentando su altura. En mares profundos éstas ondas pueden pasar inadvertidas ya que sólo tiene amplitudes que bordean el metro; sin embargo al llegar a la costa pueden excepcionalmente alcanzar hasta 20 metros de altura. Es posible trazar cartas de propagación de tsunamis, como se hace con las cartas de olas; la diferencia es que los tsunamis son refractados en todas partes por las variaciones de profundidad; mientras que con las olas ocurre sólo cerca de la costa.

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La magnitud de los efectos de un tsunami en áreas costeras, va a depender de una serie de factores físicos y de la existencia o no de emplazamientos humanos. De este modo, a continuación se describen escalas de intensidad de tsunamis, su poder destructor, sus efectos en la costa y daños ocasionados. La ola de un tsunami acumula gran cantidad de energía; cuando llega a la línea costera, esta ola avanza sobre la tierra alcanzando alturas importantes sobre el nivel medio del mar. La ola y el flujo que le sigue, cuando encuentran un obstáculo descargan su energía impactando con gran fuerza. La dinámica de un tsunami en tierra es bastante compleja y normalmente no predecible; esto se debe a que influyen factores muy diversos como son: el período, la altura de la ola, la topografía submarina y terrestre determinando daños de diversa intensidad. Los efectos de un tsunami son diferentes dependiendo de la duración del período. Con corto período, la ola llega a tierra con una fuerte corriente, y con período largo, se produce una inundación lenta con poca corriente. Por otra parte, mientras mayor sea la altura de la ola, mayor es la energía acumulada; por lo tanto, y dependiendo de la pendiente y morfología del terreno, mayor será la extensión de las áreas inundadas. Al respecto, estudios japoneses han determinado que mientras menor es la pendiente de la ola (razón entre la altura y la longitud de onda ) mayor será la altura máxima de inundación. Por otra parte, las variaciones en las formas y las pendientes de la batimetría submarina cercana a la línea de costa influye directamente en el potencial de energía del tsunami, ocurriendo amplificación o atenuación de las ondas. Así, una costa en peldaños que tenga una plataforma continental escalonada con bruscos cambios de pendiente, hará que la onda de tsunami pierda gradualmente su energía cinética y por tanto potencial, lo anterior debido a los choques sucesivos de la masa de agua con el fondo marino. Las olas van disipando su energía en las paredes con los cambios bruscos de profundidad. En tanto, una costa con topografía de pendientes suaves en forma de rampas en que la plataforma continental penetra suavemente en el mar, permitirá que la energía del tsunami sea transmitida en su totalidad, y por lo tanto, se incrementa el poder destructivo del mismo. Estas son costas de alto riesgo con olas de gran altura que producen inundación. En este caso la pérdida de energía es sólo por roce

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En las bahías puede haber reflexión en los bordes de las costas; en este caso si el período es igual (o múltiplo entero) al tiempo que demora en recorrer la bahía, al llegar la segunda ola puede verse reforzada con un remanente de la primera y aumentar la energía al interior de la bahía, este es el fenómeno de resonancia. Esta condición puede producir la amplificación de las alturas del tsunami al interior de una bahía como ocurre en la bahía de Concepción (SHOA,1995). La figura complementaria muestra la forma rectangular de la bahía con 14, 6 kilómetros de largo por 11,7 kilómetros de ancho, con una profundidad media de 25 metros. En 25 metros de profundidad la velocidad del tsunami es de 15,6 m/segundos o bien 56,3 km/hora, lo que significa que este recorre el largo de la bahía en 15,5 minutos y el ancho en 12,5 segundos. La topografía de las tierras emergidas influye directamente en la penetración del tsunami en superficie. Cuando la pendiente es relativamente fuerte la extensión de la zona inundada no es significativa, en cambio, cuando el terreno es plano o con escasa pendiente, la penetración puede abarcar kilómetros tierras adentro. Daños causados por tsunami. Los daños típicos producidos por tsunami pueden agruparse de acuerdo a los siguientes grupos: a) Daños producidos por el momento del flujo. Los daños producidos por efecto del torque o momento, se originan cuando la masa de agua del frente del tsunami seguida por una fuerte corriente, impacta el espacio construido y su entorno, caracterizado por obras de variadas dimensiones, arboles u otros objetos. En el impacto el tsunami demuestra su tremenda fuerza destructiva, la cual, se refuerza por la colisión de los objetos arrastrados por la corriente

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Cuando la masa de agua fluye de vuelta al mar, los escombros arrastrados fortalecen la fuerza del empuje del flujo que irrumpe, causando de este modo un efecto destructivo de las estructuras debilitadas por la primera embestida. En algunas ocasiones la magnitud del momento del flujo es tan alta, que es capaz de arrastrar tierra adentro a barcos de elevado tonelaje. Se debe señalar que los daños originados por esta causa son más severos en las bahías en forma de V, cuando son azotadas por tsunamis de períodos cortos. Daños producidos por la inundación. Si el flujo no es de gran magnitud, la inundación hace que flote todo tipo de material que no esté fuertemente ligado a su base en el terreno, como ocurre con casas de madera que no tienen sólidos cimientos. En el caso de una gran extensión de terreno plano, la masa de agua puede encontrar un pasaje hacia el interior y, por diferencias de pendiente, el flujo de agua es acelerado en ese pasaje originando el barrido de los elementos que se presenten a su paso, como construcciones, estructuras, etc. En estas inundaciones, normalmente personas y animales perecen ahogados; barcos y otras embarcaciones menores atracados en puertos y muelles, pueden ser arrastrados a tierra y depositados posteriormente en áreas distantes a su localización inicial una vez que el flujo ha retrocedido. c) Daños producidos por socavamiento. Los daños originados por socavamiento han sido observados a menudo en las infraestructuras portuarias. Cerca de la costa la corriente del tsunami, remueve el fango y arena del fondo del mar, socavando a veces las fundaciones de las estructuras de muelles y puertos. Si esto ocurre, dichas estructuras caen hacia el mar; como ha ocurrido con algunos muelles sobre pilotes. El colapso de las estructuras puede producirse también cuando el reflujo socava las fundaciones. La inundación que produce el tsunami puede socavar también los cimientos de líneas de ferrocarril o carreteras, originando bloqueos de tráfico y una prolongada demora en el rescate y trabajos de reconstrucción

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Los tsunamis se encuentran entre los más terribles y complejos fenómenos físicos, son eventos naturales extremos, poco frecuentes, pero de rápida generación, responsables de numerosas pérdidas de vidas y extensa destrucción en localidades costeras. La constante amenaza de tsunami sobre las costas de nuestro país, toma relevancia al momento de considerar los eventos históricos acontecidos, y al observar la tendencia a localizar residencias permanentes, industrias y variadas obras civiles muy próximas al mar. Hay diversas formas de reducir el riesgo de tsunami. Una de ellas consiste en estimar la vulnerabilidad de los asentamientos costeros amenazados, para ello se definen áreas potenciales de inundación ante un eventual tsunami, estimación que puede realizarse mediante tres técnicas complementarias: Comportamiento de tsunamis históricos. Modelos teóricos - históricos. Simulación numérica. Se debe considerar que el uso de estas técnicas es complementario, de este modo la combinación de métodos y fuentes de informacioón potencian la certidumbre de los resultados. Por otra parte, las áreas de riesgo identificadas representan el comportamiento de tsunamis históricos, no considerando efectos de roce debidos a la rugosidad del terreno y la densidad de construcciones actuales. Así, los resultados obtenidos son una aproximación de lo que podría suceder en caso de tsunami en determinadas áreas, información básica para definir el umbral entre el riesgo y la seguridad de las comunidades costeras. a) Área de inundación en función de tsunamis históricos Para identificar una curva de inundación histórica, se debe contar con una serie de antecedentes, relatos y/o fotografías del evento. Esta información debe ser complementada con las características físicas y humanas del área de estudio, la batimetría, la geomorfología costera, altitud, los usos del borde costero y los aspectos urbanos relevantes. En la ciudad de Arica han ocurrido de manera cíclica destructores terremotos que han sido generadores de tsunami. Los últimos de mayor magnitud han sido los acontecidos en 1868 y 1877. Ambos sismos fueron de magnitud 8.5 (Richter) y generaron devastadores tsunamis grado 4 en la escala de Inamura. El cálculo del área de inundación se efectuó en función de antecedentes y fotografías históricas que describen y muestran los efectos de ambos tsunamis, obteniéndose así una serie de datos espaciales de referencia. El siguiente cuadro sintetiza los puntos de control considerados

Slide 1: Rama Setu Including Proceedings of the International Seminar on Scientific and Security aspects of Setusamudram Channel Project held in Chennai on May 12, 2007 NASA Gemini XI Spacecraft (Sept. 12, 1966 - Sept. 15, 1966); NASA Space Shuttle Mission STS 59 (1994) http://history.nasa.gov/SP-168/section3b.htm S. Kalyanaraman, Editor Rameswaram Ram Setu Protection Movement, Chennai (May 2007) 1

Slide 2: Table of Contents Preface Page Rama Setu: tradition and progress with compassion Scientific-Economic Aspects Geological and Geophysical perspectives of the Ramsetu bridge Scientific evidence for ancient human activity in the project area Rama’s Bridge – A note on its origin 'Rama Setu bridge is man-made only' AR Mudaliar Committee (1956) Report against any passage across Adam’s Bridge (Rama Setu) SSCP - A monument of fraud and infamy Will ships use canal at such costs? Why the Ram Setu must not be destroyed Where Will The Next Tsunami Hit? Assessing the Stability of the Setusamundram Shipping Canal Sediment Characteristics of the M-9 Tsunami Event Between Rameswaram and Thoothukudi, Gulf of Mannar, Southeast Coast of India Save our dugongs from extinction Will the Gulf of Mannar be saved? Gulf of Mannar: the first marine biosphere of south asia Ramanathapuram District: Gulf of Mannar Marine Biosphere Reserve Coral Reefs Distribution (Gulf of Mannar) Coral Reefs of India: Review of Their Extent, Condition, Research and Management Status Crusader against the Setusamudram project speaks Prime Minister’s Office exposes system slip-up Concern on Environmental impacts Setu Channel passage: 34 Lankan experts call it eco disaster Study sought on impact of Setusamudram Socio-Cultural Aspects “Rama Sethu should not be broken” Pride in History first step to renewal Setusamudram Channel Project – Project area Seven islands between India and Srilanka Palk Strait to Gulf of Mannar -- An Archaeological Exploration 2

Slide 3: Rama Setu through the Ages Early coins and copper plate inscription of ca. 900 CE refers to ‘Setu’ Textual evidences for Rama Setu (or Setu bandha) Epics and classics Epigraphs Other textual references on Rama’s bridge Rama Setu in literature – a truth Rama Setu in sculptures (9th and 10th centuries CE) Arguments for Setubandha as a sacred monument U.S. court backs Indian tribe on sacred mountain Security Aspects Setusamudram Shipping Channel Project (SSCP) -- A Mariner’s Perspective Channel passage through Rama Setu (Adam’s Bridge) adversely impacts National sovereignty, integrity and safety Palk Bay Issues and Security Concerns: An Analysis Setusamudram Project: Reasons for the Construction of the Canal and its Economic & Environmental Impact on Sri Lanka An overview of world thorium resources, incentives for further exploration and forecast for thorium requirements in the near future Importance of thorium for Bharatam’s strategic program Historical background on and evaluation of Tsunami of Dec. 26, 2004 A Catalog of Tsunamis in the Indian Ocean Tsunamis on the coast lines of India Tsunamis return after 60 years Impact of Tsunami on Setusamudram Shipping Channel and the neighboring coastal areas Classification of tsunami hazard along the southern coast of India: an initiative to safeguard the coastal environment from a similar debacle Tsunami impacts on morphology of beaches along south Kerala coast, West 3

TSUNAMI IN INDIA AND TSUNAMI WALLS Dr. A. K. AVASARALA MBBS, M.D. PROFESSOR & HEAD DEPT OF COMMUNITY MEDICINE & EPIDEMIOLOGY PRATHIMA INSTITUTE OF MEDICAL SCIENCES, KARIMNAGAR, A.P.. INDIA : +91 505417 avasarala@yahoo.com

Slide 2: LEARNING OBJECTIVES 1) TO KNOW THE DEVASTATING EFFECTS OF TSUNAMI IN INDIA AND DISASTER MANAGEMENT 2) WILL THE CONSTRUCTION OF TSUNAMI WALLS COST- EFFECTIVE FOR SMALL ISLAND COUNTRIES?

Slide 3: PERFORMANCE OBJECTIVES DISASTER PREPAREDNESS a) SECURING PRE-DISASTER BASE LINE DATA AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE b) STUDYING THE EPIDEMIOLOGY OF SIMILAR DISASTERS c) ESTABLISHING SURVEILLANCE CENTRES ENSUING THE COOPERATION OF LOCALS d) MAKING THE LOCALS AWARE OF THE IMPENDING DISASTERS AND THEIR MANAGEMENT

Slide 4: HISTORY OF INDIAN TSUNAMIS THE OLDEST RECORD OF TSUNAMI IS  AVAILABLE FROM NOVEMBER 326 BC EARTHQUAKE NEAR THE INDUS DELTA/KUTCH REGION.  THE EARLIEST RECORD OF TSUNAMI IS REPORTED TO BE ABOUT 1.5 METERS AT CHENNAI (FORMERLY MADRAS) WHICH WAS CREATED DUE TO THE AUGUST 8, 1883 KRAKATOA VOLCANIC EXPLOSION IN INDONESIA.

Slide 5: HISTORY OF INDIAN TSUNAMIS AN EARTHQUAKE OF MAGNITUDE 8.25  OCCURRED ABOUT 70 KILOMETERS SOUTH OF KARACHI (PAKISTAN) AT 24.5 N AND 63.0 E ON NOVEMBER 27, 1945. THIS CREATED A LARGE TSUNAMI OF  ABOUT 11.0 TO 11.5 METERS HIGH ON THE COASTS OF INDIA IN THE KUTCHCH REGION, AS REPORTED BY PENDSE (1945). T. S. Murty, Baird and Associates Coastal Engineers Ottawa, Canada A. Bapat Sadashiv Peth, Puna, India

Slide 6: TSUNAMIGENIC COASTAL LINES THE APPROXIMATE LENGTH OF THE  INDIAN COAST IS ABOUT 6000 KILOMETERS. THE COASTS RUN FROM NORTH TO SOUTH AND HAVE TWO ARMS IN THE EAST AND WEST WITH A TAPERING END AT KANYAKUMARI. THE TSUNAMIGENIC EARTHQUAKES  OCCUR MOSTLY AT THE FOLLOWING THREE LOCATIONS;  (1) THE ANDAMAN SEA,  (2) AREA ABOUT 400-500 KILOMETERS OF SRI LANKA (CEYLON),  (3) THE ARABIAN SEA ABOUT 70-100 KILOMETERS SOUTH OF PAKISTAN COAST -- OFF KARACHI AND BALUCHISTAN.

Slide 7: IMPACT OF TSUNAMI IN INDIA Total death toll 9,675  Missing persons 6107  Tamilnadu 7941  Andaman & Nicobar islands 1196  Pondichery 583  Kerala 170  Andhra Pradesh 105  (source-Home Ministry- Govt of India as on 08-01-2005)

Slide 8: QUESTIONS THAT TSUNAMI ALONE CAN ANSWER WHERE IS MY MUMMY? I AM PARENTLESS!--A CRYING CHILD WHERE IS MY EARNING SON? --DEPENDENT OLD PEOPLE! WHERE IS MY EARNING HUSBAND?-- A DESTITUTE! WHERE IS MY HOUSE? --SHELTERLESS! WHERE IS MY FISHING BOAT? --FISHERMAN WHO LOST HIS EARNING! WHERE ARE MY AIRFORCE ACADEMY OFFICIALS AT NICOBAR ISLANDS? --NATION AND THEIR KITH & KIN

Slide 9: COASTAL PEOPLE  TSUNAMI AFFECTED THE PEOPLE IN INDIAN COAST.  FISHERMEN AND OTHER PEOPLE LIVING ON MARINE INDUSTRIES ARE MAXIMUM AFFECTED.  MOST OF THEM ARE SIMPLY WASHED AWAY.  THEY ARE PANIC STRICKEN NOW TO CONTINUE LIVING ON THE COAST.

Slide 10: REHABILITATION OF COASTAL FISHERMEN FISHERMEN ARE APTLY CALLED 1. AS GANGA PUTRAS i.e. SONS OF THE WATER AS THEY EARN THEIR LIVELIHOOD FROM THE SEA. THEY WORSHIP THE SEA AS THEIR 2. MOTHER. THEY DON’T WANT TO LEAVE THE COAST - COME WHAT MAY IT IS VERY DIFFICULT TO 3. EVACUATE THEM. REHABILITATION IS DIFFICULT 4. PROBLEM.

Slide 11: WORST AFFECTED TOWNS IN TAMILNADU Nagapattanam & karaikal  KARAIKALTOWN SUFFERS RS 256-CR DAMAGE  NAGAPATNAM– 800 PERSONS WERE WASHED AWAY AT THE BEACH.

Slide 12: HUMAN LOSS IN NICOBAR ISLANDS  4,657 missing from Katchal island Sridhar K. Chari writes from Port Blair THE latest figures provided by the Integrated Relief Command (IRC) here today reveal that roughly 77 per cent of the 6010 officially declared “missing”, a figure of 4657, are from the island of Katchal in the southern Nicobar group.

Slide 13: UGLY SCENE BRAVE SCENE CHILDREN WERE MADE HOMELESS 10-year old  SINGLE PARENTED school girl SURVIVING PARENT IS saved many USUALLY A HELPLESS from tsunami UNEARNIG MOTHER YOUNGEST ORPHAN IS FIVE YEAR OLD Caught in  ORPHANGES ILL WORKING swirling CHILD TRADE OF TSUNAMI waters, ORPHANS TO CITIES AS CHILD mother LABOUR AND PROSTITUTION makes toughest HOUSES choice of Thieves, rapists, kidnappers and her life hoaxers prey on tsunami victims

Slide 14: TSUNAMI FEAR  UNPRECEDENTED TSUNAMI DISTURBED MOST OF US.  HITHERTO WE BELIEVED BEACH RESORTS ARE WORTH HAVING.  BUT KNOW PEOPLE ARE AFRAID TO LIVE NEAR THE SEA COAST.

Slide 15: WHERE THEY WILL GO? HENCE FEARLESS Remote viewing  Andaman - Nicobar tribals refuse to come out from jungles –as per their predictions fresh earthquakes strike the islands Staff reporter January 04, 2005

Slide 16: DART - DEEP OCEAN ASSESSMENT AND REPORT SYSTEM  KAPIL SIBAL, MINISTER FOR SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY AND OCEAN DEVELOPMENT HAS SAID THAT - A TSUNAMI WARNING SYSTEM AT A COST OF RS 1250 MILLIONS AND IT WILL BE FULLY FUNCTIONAL IN TWO-AND-HALF YEARS.

Slide 17: Tsunami politics in India  The minister said: "When the quake hit Indonesia, we had information about it. What we did not have information about was the Tsunami. When there is any information, there is a procedure to be followed. Till the time we have complete confirmation we can't jump the gun. It was the Tsunami which did all the damage and it was not known before hand. So far as this 2002 thing is concerned, there is no information and record in my ministry to this."

Slide 18: POOR DFISASTER MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS TO A QUESTION, WHY INDIAN  SCIENTISTS, DESPITE VARIOUS SCIENTIFIC ACHIEVEMENTS TO THEIR CREDIT, FAILED TO EFFECTIVELY DEAL WITH NATURAL DISASTERS, SIBAL SAID "THERE HAVE BEEN SOME NATURAL PHENOMENON, FOR WHICH SCIENCE HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO FIND AN ANSWER TILL NOW." Pessimism or escapism? SAME LAXITY HAPPENED WITH SUPER  CYCLONE IN AT ORISSA, BHOPAL GAS TRAGEDY IN MADHYA PRADESH, DIVI CYCLONE IN ANDHRA PRADESH AND VERY FREQUENT TRAIN DISASTERS.

Slide 19: WE HAVE NOT LEANED THE LESSONS TAKE IT FOR GRANTED THAT TSUNAMI  CANNOT BE EITHER PREDICTED NOR PREVENTED. IS IT AN EXCUSE? WHETHER IT IS A TSUNAMI OR TIDAL WAVE OR WHATEVER YOU CALL IT , IT IS A HUGE SEA WATER COMING TO SHORE AND CUSING DAMAGE.  DON’T WE HAVE SUCH EXPERIENCES IN THE PAST? WHAT ABOUT DIVI CYCLONE IN ANDHRA PRADESH IN 1977 AND SUPERCYCLONE IN ORISSA?  STILL WE ARE NOT READY

Slide 20: SLOW AND HESITANT ACTION  GOVERNMENT NOT SURE OF ANYTHING  The Central Indian Government failed to act on time and then panicked all with false warning  Balaji Reddy, Special Correspondent December 31, 2004

Slide 21: TSUNAMI BUDGET PRESENTLY BUDGET IS 0.9 PER CENT  OF THE GDP. IT WOULD BE BROUGHT UP TO TWO PER CENT OF THE GDP. IT IS GOING TO BE DONE SOON. POLITICAL COMMITMENT  PRESENT GOVERNMENT WILL SPEND THE REQUIRED MONEY FOR SCIENCE AND FOR PEOPLE'S SECURITY. IT IS OUR PRIORITY “RELIEF CAMPS 630   SHIFTED TO SAFER PLACES 6,42,297

Slide 22: GESTURES OF HUMANITY Tendulkar to leave for Australia to play  CRICKET in tsunami relief fund match Rs 14.55-cr handed over to Jayalalithaa,  CHIEF MINISTER, TAMILMADU  Stalin hands over relief materials  Centre to consider special package of relief  Centre to assess damage in tsunami-hit Kerala Govt orders free ration to tsunami-hit  Gowda seeks panel to monitor relief works

Slide 23: FRENCH WALL Historic Town in India Saved by Sea Wall By CHRIS TOMLINSON The Associated Press

Slide 24: FRENCH WALL STONE SEA WALL THAT KEPT  PONDICHERRY'S HISTORIC CENTER DRY EVEN THOUGH TSUNAMI WAVES DROVE WATER 24 FEET ABOVE THE NORMAL HIGH-TIDE MARK. THE PONDICHERRY DISTRICT RECORDED  SOME 600 DEATHS FROM THE HUGE WAVES THAT STRUCK INDIA'S SOUTHEASTERN COAST AFTER A MAMMOTH EARTHQUAKE OFF INDONESIA, BUT MOST OF THOSE KILLED WERE FISHERMEN WHO LIVED IN VILLAGES BEYOND THE MAN-MADE BARRIER

Slide 25: FRENCH WALL AT ITS HEIGHT, THE BARRIER RUNNING  ALONG THE WATER'S EDGE REACHES ABOUT 27 FEET ABOVE SEA LEVEL. THE BOULDERS, SOME WEIGHING UP TO A TON, ARE WEATHERED BLACK AND BROWN.  ON DEC. 26, WHEN TOWERING WAVES CRASHED AGAINST INDIA'S SOUTHERN COAST, THE WALL HELD. PONDICHERRY WAS VERY SAFE BECAUSE OF THE ROCK BARRIER," SAID S. SUBRAMANIAN, MANAGER OF THE TOURIST INFORMATION BUREAU, WHICH HAS ITS OFFICE ON THE ROAD OVERLOOKING THE OCEAN. HE SAID ONLY THE FISHING VILLAGES AND BEACH RESORTS ON EITHER SIDE OF THE BARRIER WERE DAMAGED.

Slide 26: WALL SAVED MAALECITY (MALDIVES) MALE, THE CAPITAL CITY OF  MALDIVES IS ALSO SAVED BY A WALL WHEN TSUNAMI HIT THAT ISLAND COUNTRY

Slide 27: BANGLADESH BARRIER  INNEIGHBORING BANGLADESH, WHICH HAD ONLY TWO DEATHS FROM THE TSUNAMI, THERE IS A SIMILAR NATURAL BARRIER.  BILLIONS OF TONS OF SEDIMENT CARRIED INTO THE SEA BY THE COUNTRY'S NUMEROUS RIVERS SLOWED THE SEA SURGES BEFORE THEY HIT THE COAST.

Slide 28: ARE THE WALLS BETTER FOR SMALL ISLAND COUNTRIES? IT SEEMS SO  EVENTHOUGH WARNING WAS RECEIVED WHERE WILL THEY LEAVE?  WHERE THEY WILL GO UNLESS THEY HAVE SOME MAIN LAND NEARBY WHICH WILL PERMIT THEM?  THEY HAVE TO LEAVE ALL THEIR PROPERTY AND COUNTRY?  IN SMALL ISLANDS LIKE ANDAMANS,NICOBAR, LAKSHDIVES, MALDIVES WALLS ARE BETTER AS THEY ARE SIMPLE TO CONSTRUCT INDIGENEOUSLY AND CHEAPER THAN POSSESSING WARNING SYSTEMS WHICH THEY CANNOT AFFORD.

Slide 29: PACIFIC WARNING SYSTEMS AND THEIR NARROW MINDEDNESS ? The angry questions that hundreds of  thousands of family members of victims are asking, especially in Sri Lanka and India, are "what happened?"--and "why did no one warn us before the tsunami hit?" The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center had issued a tsunami bulletin and had concluded that there was no danger for the Pacific nations in its jurisdiction.  Why didn't it extend its warning to South and Southeast Asia? It is perhaps clear with hindsight that an Indian Ocean tsunami warning center should have been in place, or that the Indian Ocean nations should have requested coverage from the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center.

Slide 30: INDIFFERENCE  NASAFAILED TO HELP BY PRIOR INFORMATION  SOULDHAVE SAVED MILLIONS OF PEOPLE  WHY? TSUNAMI POLITICS?

Slide 31: JOINT ACTION  Indian ocean scientists, disaster managers, policy makers, and local communities need to work together toward the common goal of creating tsunami-resistant communities with access to accurate, timely tsunami warnings.  A tsunami warning center needs to be established as soon as practical in the region, and the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center should act as an interim warning center.

Slide 4: coast of India Impact of the Tsunami and the Setusamudram project How Japan handles tsunami threat Coastal action network (A comprehensive document prepared by a group of experts explaining why the environmental clearance given to the Setusamudram Channel Project should be withdrawn and the project reviewed). List of illustrations On cover NASA Gemini XI Sept. 12, 1966 showing Rama Setu linking India and Srilanka ISRO image 26 Oct. 2003 Rama Setu Preface NASA SRTS February 2000 Rama Setu International Space Station Expedition 6 Feb. 23, 2003 Rama Setu Medial line as Setu Channel Passage Islands around Rameswaram Plate tectonic situation in Indian Ocean Abbreviations BCE – Before Common Era CE – Common Era ISRO – Indian Space Research Organisation NASA – National Aeronautics and Space Administration (USA) NRSA – National Remote Sensing Agency (ISRO) SSCP – Setusamudram Channel Project 4

Slide 5: Preface NASA Gemini XI Spacecraft (Sept. 12, 1966 - Sept. 15, 1966); NASA Space Shuttle Mission STS 59 (1994) http://history.nasa.gov/SP-168/section3b.htm Image credits: NASA Johnson Space Center – Earth Sciences and Image Analysis, April 1966 Report of NASA http://history.nasa.gov/SP-168/section3b.htm Exploring space with a camera by NASA \"[193] Gemini XI. This photograph from an altitude of 410 miles encompasses all of India, an area of 1250 000 square miles,\" GEORGE M. LOW, then the Deputy Director, Manned Spacecraft Center, NASA, notes. \"Bombay is on the west coast, directly left of the spacecraft's can-shaped antenna New Delhi is just below the horizon near the upper left. Adam's Bridge between India and Ceylon , at the right, is clearly visible. A cloudless region surrounds the entire suBCEontinent. Differences in color, green near the west coast, and brown inland, delineate regions of heavy vegetation and semiarid areas.\" The picture by NASA is available on the NASA website. http://history.nasa.gov/SP-168/p193a.jpg Rama Setu as a land-bridge Feb. 23, 2003 International Space Station Expedition 6 (Bridge linking Dhanushkodi and Talaimannar as seen from the Space Station) 5

Slide 6: Rama Setu as seen on Satellite image (Google Earth, 2 May 2007) October 26, 2003, ISRO (National Remote Sensing Agency) Resource Satellite 1 http://www.isro.org

/pressrelease/ph2.jpg Survey of India logo: Aasetu Himachalam, 1767 http://www.
surveyofindia.gov.in/ 6

Slide 7: http://www2.jpl.nasa.gov/
srtm/srilanka.htm  Shuttle Radar Topography Mission (SRTM) of NASA aboard space shuttle Endeavour launched in February 2000. \"Sri Lanka is shaped like a giant teardrop falling from the southern tip of the vast Indian suBCEontinent. It is separated from India by the 50km (31mi) wide Palk Strait, although there is a series of stepping-stone coral islets known as Adam's Bridge that almost form a land bridge between the two countries.\" The book is based on the proceedings of the International Seminar on Scientific and Security Aspects of Setusamudram Channel Project (SSCP), held on May 12, 2007 at Chennai. Some articles which appeared in scientific journals have also been reproduced/ excerpted, with permission, to make the presentation comprehensive and provide for a continuity of coverage of multi-dimensional aspects which have been ignored or cursorily dealt with in the project design and implementation. The deliberations are presented in three sections: 1. Scientific-Economic Aspects; 2. Socio- Cultural Aspects; and 3. Security Aspects. Socio-Cultural aspects are included because the Environmental Impact Manual prepared under the Environmental Protection laws of the land, includes a specific requirement related to an evaluation of cultural aspects related the project area. It is surprising that the only reference in all the reports related to the project is a bland statement that there are no archaeological sites along the project alignment. This is a shocking ‘evaluation’, to say the least. SSCP is under implementation since 2 July 2005. What started as a Canal recommended by AR Mudaliar Committee (1956) has been transformed into a Channel Passage in the Indian Ocean (Hindumahasagar) constituting de facto International Waters Boundary in the Historic, internal waters between Bharatam and Srilanka. It has transpired that, deviating from the previous five alignments considered for a ‘canal’ across the Gulf of Mannar (since the first alignment proposed by AR Mudaliar Committee in 1956 across Mandapam), the character and scope of the project has been radically altered by the chosen alignment cutting a 300-metre wide, 12 m. deep passage across Ramasetu (Ramarpalam) thus attempting to create and maintain a ‘channel passage’ in the Indian Ocean. The categorical recommendations of AR Mudaliar Committee Report were as follows: [quote] We are convinced that the Adam’s Bridge site is unsuitable for the following reasons: First: The shifting Sandbanks in this area present a far more formidable problem – both at the stage of construction and during maintenance – than the sand dunes on the island site. Secondly: The approaches to a channel would be far too open with no possibility of construction of protective works. A channel at this site – even if it can be made and maintained (which is unlikely) – would entail definite navigational hazard. Thirdly: The channel would be bordering on the Setusamudram Medial Line. In these circumstances we have no doubt, whatever that the junction between the two sea should be effectd by a Canal; and the idea of cutting a passage in the sea through Adam’s Bridge should be abandoned. [quote] 7

Slide 8: The arbitrary, fast-track choice of alignment (which is 34 nautical miles longer than a closeby alignment) has created serious apprehensions among the people world-wide since the Ramasetu is an ancient cultural monument. The objective of the Seminar is to review and evaluate, with participation by experts, the SSCP scientific, technical and management aspects such as: imperative of incorporating tsunami protection measures as integral components of • the project impact on the livelihoods of coastal people of both Bharatam and Srilanka • marine resources and preservation of fragile biosphere and national marine parks • rationale for, pro-s and con-s of alternative alignments considered for the canal and • the implications denting the Ramasetu on bio-reserves, thorium/titanium type of heavier minerals for the nation’s nuclear programme international, maritime and geopolitical dimensions of the proposed passage through • the ocean including national security aspects related to the guarding of the sea-lanes cultural aspects associated with the project area in general, Ramasetu and associated • archaeological/cultural sites, in particular. Rama Setu had saved the coastline during tsunami; stop Setu Project Ramar bridge (RamaSetu) had saved the coastline during tsunami 2004. Breaking the bridge with a 300-meter wide channel passage in the Indian Ocean (Hindumahasagar) will suck the next, impending, tsunami directly into the Bharatam coastline. Devastation will be incalculable, particularly in the coastline of southern Bharatam including Tamilnadu and Kerala. Scientific and other evidences prove that the Rama Setu is an ancient land-bridge. This is a monument of national and international significance and should be declared as a World Heritage Monument. See: http://ramasetu.blogspot
.com/2007/04/bamiyan-and-setu.html  See the following from among the lists of World Heritage Sites of UNESCO: http://whc.unesco.org/en/  Coiba National Park and its Special Zone of Marine Protection in Panama http://whc.unesco.org/e Philippines http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/898 Kvarken Archipelago / High Coast in Sweden/Finland http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/369 Giant's causeway and Causeway coast in UK http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/154 Great Barrier Reef in Australia http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/764 Belize Barrier Reef Reserve System in Belize http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/80 Mont St. Michel and its bay in France http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/672 Ha Long Bay in Vietnam http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/306 Matobo Hills in Zimbabwe Aren't there good reasons why Rama Setu (or Nala Setu) should be declared as a World Heritage Site? Is it not abhyudayam to cherish and protect ancient monuments? Could anyone support what the Taliban did to the Buddha in Bamiyan? Were the Taliban merely quarrying stone? Surely, there should be some limits to ignominy. NASA images clearly establish a land bridge between Dhanushkodi island (Rameshwaram side) and Talaimannar island (Srilanka side). This bridge is composed of a series of islands and shoals (sand accumulations created by ocean currents). Thus, the entire bridge right from the sea-bed to the surface sea level is a bridge formation which has been recognized as a land bridge linking the two regions: Bharatam and Srilanka. To what extent there was manual intervention in connecting the gaps between the shoals and islands during the pre-historic periods as detailed in the ancient texts such as Ramayanam is a matter for detailed marine archaeological and geological evaluation. The reports of submergence of Kumarikandam, 8

Slide 9: Poompuhar, Dwaraka along the coastline and the formation of the Gulf of Khamba about 10000 years ago (confirmed by scientists of National Institute of Ocean Technology) point to the possibility that the recent historical record of submergence of Dhanushkodi island should provide for a pause and re-evaluation of the impact of the ocean currents and changes in sea- level on the coastline and also on the SSCP. Such a multi-disciplinary archaeological- geological-aquatic environment study should be undertaken respecting the sentiments of the people who has looked upon the bridge as a land-link between Bharatam and Srilanka. The fact that India is described in Government logo as Aasetu himachala paryantam, the fact that the project itself is called Setusamudram canal project (Setu means bridge), confirms the tradition related to the bridge. Hurting the sentiments of the people who revere Sri Rama as a divinity and personification of dharma will be a serious breach of trust and utter disdain for peoples’ sentiments. In fact, the SSCP should be reconsidered and the pros-and-cons of reactivating the land bridge between Srilanka and Bharatam should be considered afresh. A bridge may be more beneficial for both countries than a canal. The canal has limited draught and will NOT provide for the movement of large-sized tankers of the carrying capacity of, say, 2 million tones of fuel oils from the Persian Gulf region. The canal may have only a limited use for very small naval vessels. The impact on coast guard to secure the sea-lanes has also to be evaluated. The most serious concern is that this is an experimental project for constructing a canal within the ocean, and will be unprecedented in the history of navigation. Should Bharatam undertake such a high risk project with questionable value to both Bharatam and Srilanka. The authorities should set up a high-level, multi-disciplinary panel including representatives from the people of the region to re-evaluate the project, remembering that the British regime chose NOT to construct this project and instead used the railways to carry bulk commodities from the coal and iron-ore belts to the coastal cities like Chennai, Mumbai and Tuticorin. Even the Tuticorin port projects will get their sulphur-free-coal imported from Australia and the canal will not carry naval vessels carrying such imports and certainly not the fuels imported from the Gulf region. SSCP channel passage seeks to cut through this bridge. The sudden choice of the medial line as the channel in preference to five alignments recommended earlier is a matter for serious concern, causing apprehensions about the disregard for due process in designing a project of this importance seeking to link west and east coasts of Bharatam through a canal ship-route. 9

Slide 10: Plan showing various alignments of the Setusamundram Canal and the groups of islands (marine parks) in the Gulf of Mannar (reproduced from NEERI Report, 2004). NEERI introduced a new alignment which changed the entire nature of the project. What has been considered as a canal (comparable to Suez or Panama as land-based and hence, controllable canal) since AL Mudaliar Committee Report of 1956, has been transformed by NEERI in 2004 into a passage in the mid-ocean, cutting across the Adam's Bridge. All the previous 5 alignments reviewed in detail DID NOT cut across the Adam's Bridge. NEERI has failed to take note of the serious consequences noted by Mudaliar Committee (Para 16) of any channel passage through Adam's Bridge. NEERI has failed to take note of the cultural significance of the Adam's Bridge. It is considered as Setu Teerth (clearly mentioned in the Kurma Purana) and adored in the nation's ancient tradition. Rama Setu (also called Adam's Bridge) has always been considered a bridge or causeway in ALL previous texts, in ancient texts, in epigraphs, in travelogues, in government documents since the days of the British rule. There has been NO due diligence before suggesting an alternative sixth alignment which seeks to create a passage in the mid-ocean. Environment Impact Assessment Manual (Jan. 2001) of Dept. of Forests and Environments stipulates: \"Assessment of impact on significant historical, cultural and archaeological sites/places in the area.\" No discussion on this topic is found in the NEERI and other reports related to the project. Respondents' (Union of India) Counter No. 11 states: 10

JS