Which one of the following sites does not have coral reef formation?

The major coral reef formations in India are restricted to specific regions: the Gulf of Mannar, the Gulf of Kachchh, the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, and the Lakshadweep Islands [5]. While the Lakshadweep reefs are atolls, the others are primarily fringing or barrier reefs [3]. The Gulf of Khambhat (Cambay) lacks coral reef formations primarily due to high sediment loads and the massive discharge of freshwater from major rivers like the Narmada and Tapti, which create turbid conditions unsuitable for coral polyps. Coral polyps require shallow, warm, and mud-free saline waters to flourish [4]. Although patchy corals exist along the central west coast near Malvan and Ratnagiri, the Gulf of Khambhat is characterized by a wide continental shelf with mud-covered substrates, preventing reef development [5].

Sources

1. [1] https://iscnagpur.ac.in/study_material/1.3_SAK_Coral_Reefs_of_India[1].pdf
2. [2] Environment and Ecology, Majid Hussain (Access publishing 3rd ed.) > Chapter 4: BIODIVERSITY > corAl reefs. > p. 54
3. [5] Certificate Physical and Human Geography , GC Leong (Oxford University press 3rd ed.) > Chapter 11: Islands and Coral Reefs > Coral Reefs > p. 99
4. [3] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coral_reefs_in_India
5. [4] CONTEMPORARY INDIA-I ,Geography, Class IX . NCERT(Revised ed 2025) > Chapter 2: Physical Features of India > Corals > p. 14