1. Immediately after the disaster the first requirement is large-scale shelters. Erection of any permanent or semi-permanent shelters is time-consuming, costly and difficult.

2. Cheap greenhouses/net-houses might be an answer. They can provide immediate and cost-effective relief to homeless people.

3. After 2001 Bhuj earthquake a number of experimental greenhouses were converted into shelters and have worked successfully. Two models of 10' x 12' (good for family of 6 to 7 people) were designed and set up. Later 5000 of these units were set up around Bachau.

4. Greenhouse is economical and doesn't need an expert to erect it. It can be erected within one hour.

5. There are to basic elements of greenhouse:

• Frame - can be made of plastic pipes, bamboos, woods or iron rods
• Cover - can be glass or plastic fibre

6. It can be used as a shelter for tsunami-affected people or storage area for relief materials, and later - when permanent shelter is provided - could be used for low-cost growing of vegetables during off-season.

7. The standard size of greenhouses that can be used as immediate shelter is 12m2 (i.e. 4m x 3m). It will allow accommodating the entire family and their possessions.

8. The cost of greenhouse covered with part plastic fibre and part net is Rs. 110/m2. Net covering is necessary to provide proper ventilation. The total cost of a greenhouse mentioned above would be around Rs. 1300.

9. The next application of greenhouses in rehabilitation and livelihood programme for tsunami victims could be Coastal Aqua-Agro Units. The project involves growing salt-tolerant, useful plants like Salicornia, in combination with fishery ponds. These can be done in combination with mangroves in the sea on one side and plants like Jatropha on the other side. These salt-tolerant plants can be profitably grown alone or in combination with shrimp farms, thus becoming source of income for tsunami-stricken people.