Setusamudram Shipping Canal Project is a project of creating alternative shorter route to cross the Gulf of Mannar. The concept of the project is more than 150 years old.
The idea of the channel was originally put forward in 1860 by a British commander named A D Taylor was. In 1955, the Sethusamudram project committee set up by the Government of India to look into the feasibility of the project. The committee identified five routes for the project which were discussed at various levels till 2001.
The study of the feasible routes was started in right earnest in 2001 when the Government of India has earmarked funds for its study. Effort has been made to describe the purpose of the project in following sentences
To reduce travel time for the ships going to ports in south and east of the country after coming from the west of the country.
This will be possible by reducing the travel distance o n completion of the project.
To improve navigation within the territorial waters of the country. the total cost of the project is Rs 2,427 crores (Rs 24.27 billion).
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh with United Progressive Alliance Chairperson Sonia Gandhi inaugurated the project on July 2, 2005.
Commencement of the work has given birth to many controversies as the present route involves destruction of a bridge believed to have been built by Lord Rama and Muslims and Christians believe it to be Adam's creation. It is believed by Hindus that this bridge was built by the friends of Lord Rama using floating stones and Rama's army marched over it to Lanka to rescue Sita and destroy the evil regime of Ravana.
It is further confirmed by the photographs taken by NASA that ADAM' bridge is visible from the space and seems to be confirming a belief that this was built by some supernatural phenomenon. The reference to the bridge is also found in the Encyclopedia Britannica. As per this 'Adam's Bridge also called Rama's Bridge, is chain of shoals, between the islands of Mannar, near northwestern Sri Lanka, and Rameswaram, off the southeastern coast of India.
The Adam's Bridge is thus revered not only by Hindus but also by Muslims and Christians in a different manner. It is however believed by some people that it was nothing but a natural formation with a series of parallel ledges of sand stone and conglomeration.
Whatever the opinions, it is felt that the dredging of the Bridge to make the channel shall destroy a great world heritage site. In addition to above issues, issues pertaining to security have also been made due to destruction of the Bridge. The sea between India and Sri Lanka has been recognised as historic waters and not as International waters. Of late united States have refused to accept the sea between India and Sri Lanka as 'historic'. If the new channel is created through the present Rama's bridge, international ships would pass through. This will make it make a de facto international boundary between India and Sri Lanka, giving strength to the views of America.
Besides, passing of ships of all the countries shall require increased defence expenditure. The local population of the area irrespective of cast creed and race are opposed to the idea fearing the loss of livelihood. As per them the present route shall destroy marine life and corals. This shall badly affect the trade in shells having a turn over in cores and giving job to thousands of local people.
It is understood that huge quantity of thorium deposits is available in the area which shall be removed in case of dredging of the bridge. Thorium is essential for nuclear power requirement on which lot of emphasis is being put of late.
It is felt that with the destruction of Adam's Bridge; ecology of the region shall be severely affected resulting. This may lead to many more Tsunami in the region. All this does not mean that the project should be shelved even if it is economically viable.
The economic viability of the project and the issues involved should be objectively deliberated. After reviewing all the aspects the project should be completed with alternate alignment which should not hurt interest and sentiments of anybody.
The best solution seems to change the alignment instead of stopping the work on the project.
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