Green groups dash off NAC alert

A group of more than 70 environmental bodies from across the country are writing to the National Advisory Council on the need for a special task force to deal with regeneration of mangroves and coral reefs.

8216;8216;We need environment safeguards and cannot tamper with the Coastal Regulation Zone,8217;8217; said Shekhar Singh of the Centre for Equity Studies. 8216;8216;It has been discovered that all over the world, strong mangroves and coral reefs absorb the impact of tsunami waves. We need to regenerate mangroves and coral reefs and we need a special task force,8217;8217; said Singh. However, the main thrust of the note to NAC is the Draft National Environment policy, which they say is 8216;8216;inappropriate8217;8217; and the government needs to re-open the consultative process.