The Indian Andaman and Nicobar islands were amongst the locations hit worst by the devastating Tsunami in South East Asia on 26/12/2004. To protect them from further flooding, the administration has initiated the construction of mud walls in the sea.

The intention is to create the sea walls so that they will not only protect inhabitants in case of another Tsunami, but also save fields from being regularly flooded by saline waters.

Environmentalists assume the mud sea walls to have contrary effects:

The rainwater that washes off saline waters from the fields will be obstructed by the sea walls because they impede the water from flowing back into the ocean.

Environmentalists are worried about the sea walls.

Permanent homes have still not been completed.

Locals complain that compensation has been derisory.

The silt being washed off the mud walls by the sea will choke corals and destroy reefs.

Quarrying the soil off the Andaman highlands for the construction of the walls will also have negative affects on the ecosystem of the forests. Even in the case of a Tsunami the walls won’t achieve the desired affect; they are not strong enough to withstand a force such as a Tsunami.

The spending of the relief funds for the Andaman and Nicobar islands is also a cause of controversy. Not only is it debatable whether the money for the construction of mud sea walls is wisely spent, but the inhabitants haven’t received much of the money allocated for them, yet.