Tuesday, January 11 2005 18:12 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Cuddalore: It was a dense belt of mangrove that saved the village of Pitchavaram, around 40 kms from Cuddalore, from extensive damage by the gushing tidal waves.

Scientists of the Centre for Advanced Study in Marine Biology of the Annamalai University are now contemplating replicating the belt along the entire coastline, a project, which will not only be more cost effective than the 1076 km long sea wall proposed by Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa, but also sustain the natural bio-fauna.

"The mangroves have long since been called the 'green wall of the sea' as they provide protection from the waves," director of the centre, Dr T Balasubramanyam told reporters.

"The coastal village of Pitchavaram was saved from the tsunami due to the mangrove it is surrounded by. If this can be replicated all over the coastline, in case of similar catastrophe in future, safety can be guaranteed," he said.

The 5000 crore sea wall project that Jayalalithaa has mooted to provide safety against tsunamis may well remain untested due to the unpredictability of such natural phenomenon. "However plantation of a bed of mangrove, which is not very expensive and is a breeding ground for shell fishes, small fishes and larvae will augment the fishing industry," he said.

A similar project has been undertaken at Pondicherry at the cost of Rs two lakh, Balasubramanyam said.

"We have received proposals for three further afforestation projects in the district after the tsunami," district collector Gagandeep Singh Bedi said.

"We have carried out mangrove afforestation on an experimental basis in about 20 hectares at our institute and the result is excellent. In three to five years the trees grow to full height and the cost incurred would only be in conditioning the soil and keeping the cattle out who feed on this," Subramanyam said.

The sea life has not been affected much after the tsunami. "A survey is on by the research vessels of Sagar Sampada and the data will be compiled after a month to estimate the damage to marine life if any," he said adding the vessels are also testing the changes in quality and nutrients of water.

"The tsunami in a way has opened the mouth of the rivers wider here which will facilitate fishing," he said.