Meanwhile
Srilanka suddenly announced that India and Srilanka will undertake a
feasibility study to construct a Hanuman Bridge across the Palk straits. Srilankan Investment Corporation
Chairperson Mr.Jayasoorya had said that the feasibility is over and soon India
and Srilanka are going to put their signatures for green signaling this project
at a cost of Rs.4000 crores. According to that project a six way track for road
and rail traffic was mooted. The distance of 29.2 kilometers between
Thalaimannar and Dhanushkody will be connected by this bridge. Sweden and
Denmark have a sea bridge for 23 kilometers. If this bridge is completed it
will beat that record, Sri lanka proclaimed.
Dravida
Peravai criticized this project as a BERLIN WALL ACROSS THE PALK STRAITS
PLANNED TO SEND SETHU SAMUDRAM PROJECT FOR BURIAL.
In Parliament the Rajya
Sabha member from Pondicherry Mr.C.P.Thirunavukkarasu (DMK) raised his voice
against this project. The Swadeshi Protection Movement organized protest in
front of Memorial Hall Chennai. MDMK General Secretary Vaiko wrote to the
Center protesting this plan.
After
so much delay suddenly Tuticorin Port Trust on 1.09.2001 called for global
tender... The Notice Inviting Global Tender vide No E(C)/F.42/8/2001/DB was
published in all newspapers. Last date for receipt was extended to December 15,
2001. The Chairman of Tuticorin Port Trust said in the media that the feasibility
study will be over by April 2002. In this process the same National Environment
Engineering Research Institute was selected and it gave its Report. Acting on
that report, National Democratic Alliance government did not do anything.
2004
POLLS: Unprecedented victory of all 40 seats in Tamil Nadu and Pondicherry by
the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam led
Alliance resulted in United Progressive Alliance coming to power.
The DMK
nominee in the cabinet holding Shipping & Surface Transport portfolio
Mr.T.R.Baalu used all persuasive powers at his command to get a cabinet nod for
this project. Union Finance Minister P.Chidambaram too did his best to see this
project become a reality.
And meanwhile in public hearings on this project
politically motivated vested interests plotted to raise hue and cry against
this project. To politically deny credit to DMK Ministers every effort was
taken. The Tuticorin Port Trust under the dynamic leadership of Chairman
Ragupathy answered all doubts raised by full page advertisements in many
papers. It deserves reproduction separately.
GOOD NEWS ATLAST
Ultimately CABINET CLEARS SETHU SAMUDRAM PROJECT.
Canal
to reduce distance between East and west coast by 424 nautical miles, travel by
30 hours
CABINET
NOD FOR SETHU PROJECT
New
Delhi May 19,2005, The government today cleared the long delayed Sethu Samudram
Ship Canal project off Rameshwaram in Tamil Nadu that would vastly reduce
distance between East and west Coasts of India.
This
2427.40 crore project cleared by the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs may
also tap the capital market through initial public offering or private
placements to raise Rs 226 crore.
Announcing
the CCEA decision Finance Minister P.Chidambaram said a special purpose vehicle
would be set up for the implementation
of the project that would create a navigational canal.
The
canal will reduce distance of up to 424 nautical miles and sailing time up to
30 hours for ships between the east and west coast.
Elaborating
this project Chidambaram said it was a dream for over 100 years. With the
cabinet nod, the Government had fulfilled the CMP and budget promises, he said.
“It
opens up a channel that would enable ships to avoid going around Srilanka".
he said. Adding the channel would bring benefits as was the case with Suez
Canal and Panama Canal. The total project cost would be Rs 2,333 crore and
financing cost Rs 194.40 crore. Chidambaram said adding the SPV will raise the
funds. He said the financial structure of the SPV would be in the debt equity
ration of 1:5:1
The
Finance Minister said the Sethu samudram Corporation Limited will be the nodal
agency for raising resources and implementing the project through Tuticorin
Port trust.
Elaborating
on the Government contribution in the SPV, Chidambaram said it would contribute
Rs 495 crore, while the Shipping Corporation of India and Tuticorin Port Trust
will contribute Rs 50 crore each. The Dredging Corporation of India along with
Port Trusts of Chennai, Ennore, Vizag and Paradip will contribute Rs 30 crore
each.
The
project has been hanging fire for almost a century and a half, envisages
linking the Arabian Sea with the Bay of Bengal by dredging the shallow waters
to the north of Srilanka, thereby
creating a navigable canal across the Gulf of Mannar, Palk Bay and the Palk Straits.
These
waters have hitherto not been navigable by cargo shipping and the justification
for the project is that it will save about 400 kilometers of sailing distance
between east and western coasts of India.
An
environmental impact assessment report was prepared by the NEERI of Nagpur
although it has reportedly had no previous experience with marine projects of
this nature. (PTI)
Courtesy: New Indian Express May 20, 2005.
THANKS FOR ALL WHO MADE ANNA'S DREAM COME TRUE
This
website thanks the Union Government headed by Mr.Manmohan Singh for having
given the clearance for Sethu Samudram project. Dravida Peravai first thanks
A.D.Taylor who mooted this suggestion in 1860. Dravida Peravai thanks all
parties of the United Democratic Alliance for having stood for this project.
Though
many had strived for the efforts of Kalaignar M.Karunanithi, President DMK with
all his national stature and political clout led to the green signaling of this
dream project. A special thanks to him by all Tamil peoples.
Marumalarchi DMK General Secretary Vaiko can
be equally singled out for praise for his tireless efforts. Dravida Peravai
thanks Comrade George Fernandes for the efforts he had taken during his tenure,
but which failed against the Srilankan lobby which was against this project
fearing it would eat into the profits of their country's harbours. Dravida Peravai had a small role in the long
drawn struggle for that project. Our intention is to place that on record.
Having
said all, it should be stated that Sethusamudram project was mentioned by
Aringnar Anna as one of the 1000 crore projects he spelt out for Tamil Nadu's
prosperity as Opposition Leader in the floor of the Assembly in 1957-1962.On
becoming Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu to urge the Union Government grant this
project and Salem Steel plant he gave a call to organize "Ezhucchi Naal
"(Day of Uprising). As Student DMK Convener N.Nandhivarman spoke at Senji
Salai thidal of Pondicherry at that time. Now whole Tamil Nadu feels happy that
Anna's dream is coming true.
No comments:
Post a Comment