KOLLAM: It is not global warming that would lead to the disappearance of Munroe island as stated by a central agency, but post-tsunami tectonic shift and dam construction, according to Mr Sainudeen Pattazhi, scientist from Kollam.
Munroe Thuruthu is a cluster of islands with an area of 13.4 square kilometre in the Ashtamudi lake situated near the Arabian sea on the one side and Kallada river on the other.
In a recent phenomenon, the islands were flooded during the high tide denoting the axial lowering of the land mass. Kidapram, Kandramkani, Pattom Thuruth, Nenmeni, and Velingolam in the island were badly affected by the water level rise.
Mr. Sainudeen in his study noted that some areas situated as high as three metres above water level before tsunami had dipped to 0.5 to 1 metres after the catastrophe.
This is due to the downward movement of minor tectonic plates in the area caused by the tsunami, according to Mr. Sainudeen. He also points out that dam construction along the upstream of Kallada river had contributed to this as the area is a delta formation of the river. He demanded that this place should be declared as a national calamity site.
