The 2004 calamity marked the beginning of a new chapter in the lives of those who lost their homes, fish boats, and much else. Anticipatory action plans for managing the consequences of seawater intrusion in our coastal areas have become an imperative.

Sanjib Kumar Roy
Port Blair,

REITERATING its commitment to preserve the ecosystem of Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Lieutenant Governor Bhopinder Singh has said that protection of endangered species was the top priority.

Observation: DDG of Meteorology, Regional Meteorological Centre, Chennai, R.V. Sharma, with the seismic graph on Friday. CHENNAI: A mild tremor, linked to an earthquake of moderate intensity near the Andaman Islands, shook several parts of the city around 5.10 p.m. on Friday. Deputy Director General of Meteorology, Regional Meteorological Centre, R.V. Sharma, said no tsunami warning was issued following the quake, which measured 6.7 on the Richter scale and had its epicentre at 11.0 degree north (latitude) and 91.6 degrees east (longitude).

the Great Andamanese tribe speaks a language that no one else in the world does. A study suggests it could be among the few paleolithic languages that exist in the world and may constitute the sixth

With a parliamentary panel finding misutilisation and diversion of tsunami relief funds, an empowered group of ministers (e-GOM) headed by union home minister Shivraj Patil has undertaken a review of the Rs 10,000 crore rehabilitation scheme. Since 2008-09 is the deadline for implementation of the rehabilitation scheme, the e-GoM issued a directive to the affected states and union territories that the work should be expedited to complete the task within the stipulated time.

The controversy over the BRT corridor has also generated a lot of curiosity about the system. With the issue failing to die down, several government officials dealing with the project claim they have been receiving calls inquiring about the system. Some of the questions flying their way are: "How does the system work? What are its benefits?

Over three years after the tsunami nearly flattened parts of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, rehabilitation work is still on. Its progress seems slower than in other parts of the country. A scene from the picturesque Bamboo Flat permanent tenements is representative of the work in the entire archipelago. Completed houses, papered with expensive bamboo patterns, stand beside blocks of cement sticking out of wet mud

The Coimbatore-based Sabols, a leading packaged drinking water company in South India, is repositioning itself as Sabols Foods India Pvt Ltd to tap the growing ready-to-eat and ready-to-cook food market in the country. "We want to be a pan Indian company catering to the discerning, quality conscious consumers across the country,' KM Senthil, chairman said.

A cow for Rs 89,000, a pig for Rs 12,000 and a goat, Rs 19,000. These are not fictional prices dreamt up by some livestock dealer. These are the prices businessmen have quoted for supplying