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amount of debris and solid waste, piled up on the beaches as a

precautionary measure.

The major plant species within one kilometre of the stretch consisted

of coconut, casuarinas, cashew nuts and palm. The palm species was

the most damaged amongst them– the trees were showing a withered

condition due to water stagnation and salinity. Casuarinas and coconut

plantations had acted as effective barriers in buffering the force of the

tsunami. Terrestrial plants not adapted to saline conditions – agricul-

tural crops, home gardens and grasslands were adversely affected.

Physical impacts on water bodies resulted in closure of the estuary

mouth, discontinuation of water flow at the existing harbour and the

creation of new water bodies. Large volumes of sand had been

deposited on salt marshes, and the formation of barrier islands at the

sea edge due to sand deposition modified the coastline in certain areas.

Seawater had penetrated to a depth of about one metre, affecting the

root zones. Preliminary salinity tests by the District Agriculture Office

showed pH values in the range of 7-9. Colour changes in the soil –

dark patches, deposition of new sediments – indicated a change in

nutrient availability and other properties.

The study area was divided into three zones:

• Zone I: settlements having urban characteristics

• Zone II: settlements near water bodies such as backwaters and

lagoons

• Zone III: settlements within vegetated areas – coconut, cashew

plantations.

This helped in formulating proposals for the areas.

Framework for proposals; environmental

management measures

The proposals were arrived at by attempting a strengths, weaknesses,

opportunities and threats (SWOT) analysis of the study area, zone-

by-zone, to address location specific issues within an overall

framework to achieve safer conditions.

The management measures were formulated keeping

in mind the three-tier decision-making and implement-

ing mechanism prevalent in the study area. Any

long-term measure should address national policy – to

enable policy modification, especially amendments to

the CRZ notification, by making it more location-

specific.

At the state level, a strategic plan for disaster prepared-

ness for vulnerable areas was suggested. The major focus

of the proposals was for the local area. Depending on the

characteristics of each zone the measures addressed:

• Location of future developments

• Provision of cyclone shelters

• Formulation of escape routes

• Landscape upgradation

• Infrastructural upgradation

• Occupational diversification.

Time phasing of proposals

The proposals were to be executed in a phased manner

– short-term and long-term.

Short-term (six months to a year):

• Construction of cyclone shelters and boat shelters

• Defining escape routes

• Installing warning systems.

Long-term (one to two years):

• Shelter belts

• Rejuvenation of the beach

• Diversification of occupations

• Rehabilitation.

The study has been presented at various levels and

through seminars held in various coastal cities of India.

We hope that this will have triggered action in the right

directions.

To conclude, the tsunami might have been a disastrous

event in the history of mankind, but it has given an impetus

to new developmental activities in the coastal hamlets.

Although policies and programmes have always advocated

the safety of people in these coastal villages there is always

a huge gap between planning, implementation andmanage-

ment. The calamity of 26 December 2004 has modified the

entire concept of coastal regulation.

Carried out by planners having a special concern for

environment, the study attempted to understand the

scenario post tsunami and its implications for different

aspects of human settlements. One can easily envisage

developmental activities for the coastal people, but the

real test lies in the implementation on site. In the long

run, it is the participation of the people and their

response to such developmental programmes which

matters. The dependence of human settlements on

natural resources calls for management measures which

are oriented towards the betterment of the people. This

studio assignment

was a small endeavour in this field,

which aims at evolving some basic environmental

measures for the tsunami-struck areas, with Cuddalore

as an example.

Environmental management measures for the tsunami affected area

Source: Environmental management measures; Cuddalore District: Studio Report,

Department of Environmental Planning, School of Planning and Architecture, May 2005

Diagrams showing delineation of zones and time phasing of proposals