Tuesday, May 10 2005 09:06 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: The Andamans and Nicobar Islands are now about three metres closer to Indian coast than it was pre-tsunami, while certain parts of the Islands have gone down by up to one metre, scientists said in New Delhi yesterday (May 9, 2005).

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

Movement was such that Indian coast moved about three metres closer to the Andaman coast while Burmese coast also moved closer to Andaman coast by about the same measurement, he said.

Besides the data showed that certain parts of Andaman and Nicobar Islands went down by about one metre, he said.

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

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

Salinity in Tamil Nadu coast had increased, which would take about two rainy seasons to subside, an official said adding due to land sub-duction a lot of agricultural land was wasted in Andamans.

The studies also showed there was decrease in fish catch on South West coast to 300 kg in comparison to pre-tsunami of 1500 kg. However, there was an increase in fish catch at North East to 125 kg in comparison to previous 9 kg. Kerala coast had also shown low nutrient, he said adding area with thick mangrove vegetation in Andamans was least affected.