Speedy implementation of Sethu Samudram Canal Project
D.K’s continuous propaganda in Southern Districts
D.K.Balakrishnan
.Sethu Samudram Canal Project is a long-cherished dream project of people
of Tamil Nadu. Like the Suez canal and Panama Canal, this Sethusamudram
Canal will also reduce the travel time, fuel and expenses of ships travelling from west coast to east coast of India, which are now travelling around the island of Sri Lanka.
Dravidar Kazhagam was insisting for the implementation of this project from 1948 onwards, passed many resolutions in party forums, conferences and widely enlightened the people of Tamil Nadu about the importance of this project through public meetings and writings. The D.M.K. party was also insisting the implementation of the project and passed resolutions in Tamil Nadu State Assembly also.
After much political manoeuvering, the project was accepted in principle by the Govt. of India when the BJP government under Mr.Atal Bihari Vajpayee was in power, but the scheme finally reached the stage of implementation in the UPA regime. The scheme was inaugurated at a function held at Madurai in which Tmt. Sonia Gandhi, President of Congress and Leader of the United Progressive Alliance and Dr.Manmohan Singh, Prime Minister taken part.
This Rs. 2,427 crore project aims at excavating the shallow sea between the Palk Bay and the Gulf of Mannar, 44.9 nautical miles, creating a channel that will reduce 400 nautical miles of voyage and save more than 21 hours of time for the ships.
The key objective of this project is to enable and create a continuous navigable route for India within her own territorial waters around the peninsular coast of 3,554 nautical miles.
The presence of shallow coral reefs and chain of sand bars called Adam’s Bride between Rameswaram in south eastern coast of India and Talaimannar of Sri Lanka come in the way. This chain of bed of sand dunes and coral reefs are all along called as Adams Bridge and it was at no time called as Ramar Bridge. The project envisages construction of a ship canal to suit different drafts : 9.15 metre, 10.7 metre and 12.8 metre through dredging / excavation. This will create an artificial 167 km long, 300 metre wide and 12 metre deep channel like passage for ships having 10,000 - 12,000 gross tonnage across the island formation called Adam’s Bridge .
This Adam’s Bridge is actually a chain of sand bars dotting a 30 km stretch in the east-west direction. The chain of barrier islands is not unique to Adam’s Bridge. The formation of barrier islands, which are common along the Atlantic coast, probably began around 25,000 years ago, said in January 2007 S.Ramachandran, former Vice-Chancellor of University of Madras.
Thiru Subramanian Swamy, the so-called president of the non-existent Janata Party, has filed a writ petition in the Madras High Court, in May 2007 challenging the dredging of Adam’s Bridge as part of the project. The religious sentiments of Hindus are wounded by the action of the Government in attempting to remove the Ramar Palam constructed by Lord Rama to cross the ocean to reach Sri Lanka, he contended.The case was transferred to the Supreme Court to be heard with a similar matter. It was contended that the Govt. of India has not taken steps to investigate the history and origin of Adam’s bridge in violation of Article 49 of Constitution and Section 4 of the Ancient Monument and Archeological Sites and Remains Act, 1951.
In support of their stand the petitioners referred to the epic Ramayana, stating that the hero Lord Ram built the bridge to cross over to Lanka. In their affidavit the Govt. of India affirmed that Ram Sethu was not man-made but a natural formation comprising a chain of seven shoals (naturally formed sand bars which are the result of wave action.) The NASA, U.S., on whose photos taken by its space-borne cameras the existence of chain of sand bars in the Palk strait, the petitioner is relying upon, has clarified that these photos cannot provide direct information about the origin of each of the chain of islands, and certainly cannot determine whether humans were involved in producing any of the pattern seen.
The fanatic Hindutva outfits are blocking implementation of this project citing beliefs in mythologies. How funny it is to call the invisible sand dunes under the seabed as Historical Religious Monument?
Selvi J.Jeyalalitha, former Chief Minister and General Secretary of AIADMK has also joined hands in opposing the implementation of the project. It is a great irony that the AIADMK, which has catalogued the benefits that could be derived from the Sethu Samudram Canal Project and promised to strive hard to implement the project, if elected to power, in its Election Manifesto issued on 10-5-2001, has now made a somarsault and opposes the project.
The Brahmins and the Hindutva forces are always against the interest and welfare of Tamilians. They will oppose the glorification of Tamil language; they will oppose and criticise the sentiments of Tamilians supporting the cause of Eezham Tamilians. They will oppose the scheme of provision of one kilo rice for one rupee or free supply of cooking gas connections and stoves or colour T.V. to the poor people or other welfare schemes like financial assistance for the marriage of poor women, widows or for the delivery of babies. They will oppose the policy of reservation in education and employment. They want the downtrodden people oppressed for thousands of years in the name of religion, god and caste should continue to be in ignorance and servile condition. They won’t tolerate their coming up in life. Such a racial prejudice and hatred they are nurturing in their hearts.
No wonder these people are trying to block the Sethusamudram Canal Project, which will help for the development of the economy and living conditions of the people of the coastal districts in Tamil Nadu. The Ports of Tuticorin and Kolachel can be upgraded to the standard of international ports. The project will provide direct and indirect employment opportunities for thousands of people. Already 75% of the dreadging operations have been completed and more than 300 crores of rupees have been spent. At that stage, the Supreme Court has granted an interim stay for undertaking further dredging operations.
The BJP is trying to get electoral advantage fomenting the religious sentiments of people using the name of Ram Sethu. The Congress party is afraid of the set back this issue can create in its electoral prospects. Nobody at the Centre is keen or anxious to get the stay of the Supreme Court vacated. If this issue is allowed to prolong, the efforts taken by various organisations and leaders and the money sofar spent by the government on this project will go waste.
That is why, the Dravidar Kazhagam has undertaken the task of enlightening the people of the southern districts of Tamil Nadu through continuous propaganda demanding speedy action by the Government of India to get the stay of the Supreme Court vacated and to complete the Sethu Samudram Canal Project.
Three teams had been formed to undertake the propaganda in different area from 4th January to 11th January. Each team consisted of a best speaker, an artist to enact cultural programs or magic or miracle programes, and some co-ordinators. This team, starting from Kanyakumari, Rameswaram and Nagapattinam, addressed three meetings every day at 4.00, 6.00 and 8.00 p.m. at three different places. The details of the team members, the names of places and dates of the meetings they addressed are given separately. The teams enlightened the public about the importance and the benefits the people of Tamil Nadu, especially in the coastal districts would get from the Sethusamudram Canal Project, the obstacles created by the Hindutva forces and conservative people like Thiru Subramaniyan Swami. A demand was raised requesting the Government of India to implement the project speedily, getting the stay of the Supreme Court vacated.
This is not the first time such campaign has been undertaken by Dravidar Kazhagam. In November, 2007, a continuous propaganda throughout southern Tamil Nadu was organised and started from four points which converged at Madurai on the final day.
Dr.K.Veeramani, President of Dravidar Kazhagam addressed a mammoth gathering at Madurai on 11th, December 2009 the concluding day of the propaganda tour of these three teams.
Dr.K.Veeramani said “We will not rest till the implementation of the Sethu Samudram Project. As a next step, we will undertake Rail Rako struggle to stress our demand. Thousands and thousands of our people are prepared to join in this struggle and undergo imprisonment. We will fill up all the jails in the State.”
It is heartening to note that His Excellency the Governor of Tamil Nadu has insisted in his address to the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly on 6th January emphasising the speedy implementation of the project. Let us hope that the Govt. of India will respect the sentiments and wishes of the people of Tamil Nadu, take speedy action to get the stay of the Supreme Court vacated and to implement the project at an early date.
