Kerala - Alappuzha   

Caution against high-rise buildings in coastal areas

By Our Staff Reporter

ALAPPUZHA, MARCH 5. Participants of a debate on the tsunami organised by the Samskrithi Alappuzha district committee and Jawahar Library, Tharayilkkadavu at the tsunami-hit Tharayilkkadavu area in Arattupuzha panchayat have opined that the Government should not encourage the construction of high-rise buildings along the coastal line of the State.

A.V. George, head of the Department of Geology, Christ College, Irinjalakkuda, who presented a paper, said high-rise buildings in the coastal area are not safe. Pointing out the case of Kochi, he said the construction of multi-storeyed flats adjacent to the seashore at Kochi should not be allowed as they would not be safe for the residents in the event of an earthquake with its epicentre in the land or in the sea.

Dr. George, who was recently deputed by the Speaker, Therambil Ramakrishnan, to take classes on tsunami to the MLAs, said it would have been better if the authorities directed construction groups to build high-rise buildings at Kakkanad, which is a safer place.

Dr. George, author of several books on earthquakes, opined that Assam could expect a major earthquake at any time in the coming ten years. He said his prediction was based on the pattern of earthquakes which occurred in Assam during the last 108 years. As many as four earth quakes hit Assam during the period, he noted. The earthquakes occurred in 1897, 1935, 1950 and 1988, he said.

Role of mangroves

Speaking on the devastation caused by the tsunami at Arattupuzha and the neighbouring panchayat of Aalappad, Dr. George said the geographical features of these panchayats might have allowed the waves to wreak havoc on the land.

He opined that though the construction of sea walls may help to minimise the impact of sea erosion, it would not have any impact on a tsunami. According to him, the planting of mangroves would reduce the impact of tsunami on the coastal areas.

Dr. George said the Deep Ocean Assessment and Reporting of Tsunamis (DART) system, which the Union Government had promised to install in two years, would be able to provide tsunami warning to the public 30 minutes after an earthquake which causes the tsunami.

The Haripad MLA, T.K. Devakumar, inaugurated the debate. The Samskrithi State chairman, P.T. Thomas, MLA, delivered the key-note address. The Samskrithi State general secretary, Munjinattu Ramachandran, welcomed the gathering. A large number of residents of Arattupuzha participated in the debate.

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Caution against high-rise buildings in coastal areas

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