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Sea walls opposed

Sea walls opposed environmentalists in Andaman and Nicobar (a&n) Islands are vociferously opposing a government decision to construct mud sea walls to stop the deluge of seawater post-tsunami. Many non-governmental organisations working in Andaman allege the move is a misutilisation of tsunami relief money and would destroy coral reefs.

"This [construction of sea walls] was extremely necessary for the welfare of islanders. We could reclaim a lot of land ...and, most importantly, save a part of Andaman Trunk Road...We have also cleared 1,713 hectares land for cropping,' says V V Bhat, chief secretary, a&n administration. But Samir Acharya of Society for Andaman and Nicobar Ecology, an environmental organisation, has a different take: "This is wasting tax payers' money. a&n islands get 3,000 millimetre rainfall annually and these mud structures cannot stand even for a year in this climate

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