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| Pichavaram mangrove wetland, occupying an
area of about 1400 ha, is located about 280 km down south of Chennai,
in the Cuddalore District. Fishing and farming communities belonging
to 17 hamlets utilize the resources of the Pichavaram mangrove
wetlands of Cuddalore District. Out of these 17 hamlets, 6 hamlets
are under physical coverage of the mangrove wetlands, 5 hamlets
are located on or near to the open beach and not protected by
mangroves. Remaining 6 hamlets are far away from mangrove forest.
There was no damage to 6 hamlets that are physically protected
by the mangroves but hamlets located on or near to the beach have
been totally devasted. |
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| Tsunami & Mangroves: |
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| Field visit was made to the Pichavaram mangroves
and no major damage was noticed; a few trees located very close
to the sea uprooted. All the hydrogen sulphide loaded soil and
debris deposited on the forest floor are washed away, which will
have positive impact on mangroves. |
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| Pichavaram mangrove forest protected hamlets
namely, T.S.Pettai, Vadakku Pichavaram, Therkku Pichavaram, Meenavar
Colony, MGR Nagar and Kalaingar Nagar against the fury of tsunami.
Total families in these hamlets are about 1228 and total population
is about 6191. These hamlets are located between 100 m to 1000
m from mangroves. In these hamlets seawater has not entered into
the village and there is no loss of property. However, 4 women
belonging to MGR Nagar, who were fishing nearby the sea were washed
away and died. |
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| It is seen that mangrove trees in rows located
close to the sea got uprooted due to the impact of the tsunami
and beyond that there is no damage. It seems mangrove forest reduced
the impact of the tsunami by two ways: a) velocity of the tsunami
water greatly reduced after it entered into the mangroves due
to friction created by thick mangrove forest and b) volume of
water reaching a point is greatly reduced since tsunami water,
after entering into the mangroves, is distributed to all the canals
and creeks that are present all over the mangroves. A number of
fishers who were fishing in the nearby the sea but moved into
mangrove water after seeing huge wave of about 10 to 15 feet coming
to the beach experienced these. One of the fishers said, "we
saved the mangroves by restoring them and it saved our life and
property by protecting us" of about 10 to 15 feet coming
to the beach experienced these. One of the fishers said, "we
saved the mangroves by restoring them and it saved our life and
property by protecting us" |
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| Damage to mangrove resource user hamlets |
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| Some of the fishing families belonging to
hamlets such as Muzhukkuthurai, MGR Thittu, Chinnavaikal, Pillumedu,
Kannagi Nagar and Mudasalodai fish in the mangrove water seasonally
and a few families annually. Since these hamlets are located either
near to mangroves, thereby not under the physical cover of the
mangroves or on the beach they are devasted by the tsunami. Some
of the hamlets such as MGR Thittu, Chinnavaikal, Pillumedu and
Kannagi Nagar are located about 50m from the high tide line. These
hamlets are first developed as temporary settlements. |
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| Impact |
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| The following are the impact of the tsunami
in the above-mentioned hamlets. |
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- Loss of lives
- Loss of and damage to fishing gears and crafts
- Loss of thatched houses with mud walls and huts
- Damage to houses
- Loss of all livestocks
- Loss of all household items, including cooking vessels
- Loss of personal properties including jewels and hard cash
- Loss of textbooks and other items of school students
- Total salinization of lands and water resources, including
drinking water.
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| Loss of lives in these villages is given in
Table 1 and a few are reported missing. Loss of crafts and gears
(which can not be repaired) are given in Table 2: |
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| Table 1 Loss of lives in the hamlets affected
by tsunami in the Pichavaram region |
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| Hamlet |
Total
family |
Total
population |
Casualty
|
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|
|
Adult
|
Children |
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|
|
|
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| Muzhukkuthurai |
155 |
512 |
4 (M 4; F 4) |
3 (M 1; F 2) |
| MGR Thittu |
173 |
856 |
24 (M 6; F 18) |
26 (M 17; F 9) |
| Chinnavaikal |
50 |
211 |
5 (M 1; F 4) |
6 (M 1; F 5) |
| Pillumedu |
45 |
120 |
5 (M 1; F 4) |
7 (M 1; F 6) |
| Kannagi Nagar |
10 |
30 |
2 (M 1; F 1) |
0 |
| Total |
433 |
1729 |
40 |
42 |
|
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| Table 2: Fishing crafts lost due to tsunami |
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| Hamlet |
Catamaran |
Catamaran
with engine |
Dugout
canoes/thoni |
Fiberglass
boats |
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|
|
|
|
| Muzhukkuthurai |
10 |
27 |
0 |
10 |
| MGR Thittu |
0 |
0 |
0 |
43 |
| Chinnavaikal |
0 |
0 |
10 |
31 |
| Pillumedu |
0 |
0 |
20 |
0 |
| Kannagi Nagar |
0 |
0 |
5 |
0 |
| Total |
10 |
27 |
35 |
84 |
|
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| 1 Catamaran is about Rs.10000/-, Catamaran
with engines, Rs.30000/-, Thoni 30000/- and Fiberglass boats Rs.80000/-.
Each fisher lost fishing net worth of about Rs.15000 to 25000/-. |
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| What we have done? |
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| Rice and groceries worth of Rs.5000/- was
provided to affected families on the next day of tsunami and medicine
worth of Rs.5000/- is provided to the Primary Health Centre of
Killai as per the physician's request. We have also arranged medical
camps with the help of team of AMDA, Japan. Biocouncil, Pondicherry
provided rice, oil and groceries to about 15 families. Apart from
these, 4 other oraganizations, who came with relief materials
and approached our help for distribution, provided assistance. |
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- A proposal for relief and rehabilitation for Muzhukkuthurai
village has been prepared and sent to ICEF.
- NDTV team was taken to mangroves and a 4 minute programme
to show how mangrove can play a vital role prevent this kind
of disaster was shot.
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| What is going on now? |
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| As an immediate relief measure Government
has provided Rs.4000 and 60 kg rice to all families and Rs.100000/-
for the families, which lost lives. Assessment of loss and damage
to houses, livestock and boats and nets is going on. |
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| What is the need of the people? |
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| Discussion with leaders and others in the
affected village indicated that they need the following as measure
medium term measure. |
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- Poles and coconut shingles to construct huts
- Drinking water facility
- Uniform and books and notebooks to school children
- Revolving fund for boats and nets
- Repairing of boats and nets
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| As a long-term measure we may take up the
following activities : |
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- Building people's institution
- Poverty alleviation programmes
- Self-help groups
- Mangrove plantation in an area of about 500 ha
- Village Knowledge Centres
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| Visit : MSSRF Tsunami Report |
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| 1. Beyond
Tsunami : Saving Lives and Livelihoods |
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| 2. Tsunami
Rehabilitation Programmes |
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| 3 . Forewarened
is Forearmed |
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