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.

‘‘We need environment safeguards and cannot tamper with the Coastal Regulation Zone,’’ said Shekhar Singh of the Centre for Equity Studies. ‘‘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,’’ said Singh. However, the main thrust of the note to NAC is the Draft National Environment policy, which they say is ‘‘inappropriate’’ and the government needs to re-open the consultative process.