ARINGNAR ANNA's DREAM PROJECT SETHU SAMUDRAM AND ATAL BIHARI VAJPAYEE

SETHU SAMUDRAM SEAWAY: DREAM OF ANNA

 N.Nandhivarman General Secretary Dravida Peravai  

In Tamil Nadu at Madurai, Ramanathapuram and at Tuticorin, the Union Defense Minister George Fernandes announced the launching of Sethu Samudram project. Breaking that news THE HINDU, English Daily dated January 8, 1999 wrote: 

A 138-YEAR SUSPENSE BROKEN

The Sethu samudram canal project will go down in history as gift of the 20 th century to the southern districts of Tamil Nadu. A 138 year old suspense was broken by the Union Defense Minister Mr. George Fernandes, on Wednesday when he announced at Rameshwaram that work on the project will commence in the next few months.

 Conceived in 1860 by Commander A.D.Taylor of the Indian Marines, the project, envisaged to link the Gulf of Mannar and the Palk Bay, has been reviewed umpteen times over the years but a decision could not be made. At a time when the people of southern districts began to think that Sethusamudram would remain a pipe dream like linking of the Ganga and Cauvery, came the announcement from the Prime Minister A.B.Vajpayee in Chennai that his government would implement the project. The Prime Minister followed that announcement by entrusting the project to the Defense Minister, who did lot of spadework in the last four months before making an aerial survey of the project on Wednesday. Light could be seen at the end of the tunnel. Since the conception of the Sethu Samudram, two other canals- the Suez Canal (1869) and the Panama Canal (1915) have been built in the world.

Though many reasons could be attributed to the delay in the project taking shape, lack of political will has been the major factor. Like marking the twelfth man in a cricket team, Sethu Samudram found a place in the election manifestoes of all political parties during elections. Hopes about the implementation of the project soared when the Union Government appointed the Sethu Samudram Project Committee in 1955, headed by Dr.A.Ramasamy Mudaliar, which was charged with the duty of examining the desirability of the project. After evaluating the costs and benefits, this committee found the project feasible and viable. Several reviews of the proposals followed this till Mr.Vajpayee announced his Governments commitment to execute the project.

 What is paramount importance to the country are the strategic advantages that would accrue from this project. Though the country has a peninsular coast running to 3554 nautical miles, it does not have a continuous sea-lane within its territorial waters. Ships navigating from one side of the country to the other have to circumnavigate Sri Lanka due to the presence of Adam’s bridge, a sand stone reef near Ramasewaram coast. A memorandum submitted to the Central Committee on Sethu Samudram Ship Canal project by the State Government on August 1981 pointed out that the canal will afford secret and sheltered passage for our Naval ships and Coast Guard vessels. Otherwise, they will have to suffer exposure to the foreign countries in the Indian Ocean and also suffer more wear and tear voyaging around Srilanka. 

The distance between Cape Comerin and Chennai would be reduced to 402 nautical miles from the present 755 after the completion of the project. The distance between Cape Comerin and Vizag will be 719 nautical miles against the present 1014, between Cape Comerin and Calcutta 1098(1357), Tuticorin and Chennai 335(769). Tuticorin and Vizag 652(1028), Tuticorin and Calcutta 1031(1371). Apart from effecting savings in fuel the project is expected to provide a tremendous boost to the economic and industrial development of coastal Tamil Nadu. The project will be of particular significance to the Tutucorin harbour, which has the potential to transform itself into a nodal port such as Singapore and Colombo. The State Government has announced its proposal to develop 13 minor ports, including Ennore, Cuddalore, Nagapattinam, Thondi, Valinokam, Colachel and Kanyakumari. And the Sethu samudram canal will improve coastal shipping. There is also a possibility of introducing passenger and freight services along the coast.

The normally drought prone Ramanathapuram district will be the major beneficiary of the project in terms of providing employment. The maritime skills of the people living in the Rameshwaram and Pamban areas could be harmonized for the development of the region. There is also the scope for the development of a major port like Port Said of the Suez Canal in the district. Apart from improving the fishing trade, the canal will be a major tourist attraction. 

Though there has been a vociferous demand from various quarters for the implementation of the project, there is also opposition to it. albeit in low pitch from environmentalists. They point out that the dredging of the Palk Bay and the Gulf of Mannar would endanger precious marine species and wealth. However official environment clearance has been given for the project. The contention that the Sethu Samudram canal will cut through coral reefs and disturb the ecology as a mistaken fear. Since the coast is either clayey or sandy in nature the ecology will not be endangered, it has been pointed out.

The announcement of the Defense Minister and the commitment demonstrated by the Planning Commission has raised hopes of the people of south Tamil Nadu.

By Staff Reporter: Courtesy: THE HINDU English Daily. (Jan 8, 1999)

In one such meeting held at Tuticorin, N.Nandhivarman General Secretary Dravida Peravai translated the speech of Union Defense Minister George Fernandes.  That was on 6.1.1999. 

Then elections came in the way. Again when Nandhivarman stressed the necessity to include Sethu Samudram project  in National Democratic Alliance Manifesto, the President of Samata Party George Fernandes in a letter dated August 5-1999 wrote: "The matters pertaining to interlinking of rivers and related issues did figure in the last meeting of NDA. Sethu Samudram cannot be discussed at that moment as that would violate the code. However you can be rest assured that once the NDA is returned to power these items will be high on the agenda of the government."