165 villages on Orissa coast vulnerable to high tidal waves-committe

Bhubaneswar, Sep 14 (UNI)The House Committee on natural calamities has identified 165 villages along the Orissa coast as vulnerable to high tidal waves in the wake of tsunami.

A draft memorandum prepared by the committee that met under the Chairmanship of Revenue Minister Manmohan Samal here yesterday said the villages were located within two km of the sea beach and prone to high tidal waves.

The memorandum said while the effect of a tsunami with epicentre at Myanmar would be felt at Orissa within 35 minutes, the impact of a tsunami with epicentre at Indonesia could be felt within five hours in the Orissa coast and recommended shifting of these villages to safer places.

The draft memorandum sought a central assistane of Rs 6837 crore to save the state from different natural calamities including flood,tsunami and cyclone in the coming days.

The committee expressed its concern over the rising sea level eating into the landmass in some areas. Though the state government has sought the assistance of the department of Oceanography to find out the reasons of rising sea level and suggest measures to tackle it, the committee recommended constructing a coastal highway to protect human habitations from the rising tidal waves.

The committee also expressed its concern over the largescale destruction of mangroves and casurina forests and unauthorised construction along the coast and decided to seek central assistance to recreate the mangrove and casurina forests.

The committee sought an appointment with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil to submit the memorandum, sources said here today.

UNI