Living Planet Foundation

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Please write to the Indian government using this text or your own words:

Dr Manmohan Singh
Prime Minister of India
Prime Minister's Office
South Block
Raisina Hill
New Delhi 110 001
India

Dear Prime Minister:

The Gulf of Mannar is a Distinct Natural and Cultural Resource Site and an Ideal Candidate for the UNESCO World Heritage Site Designation.

I am deeply concerned about the future of the Gulf of Mannar, which is an international priority site for many reasons - its biophysical and ecological uniqueness, its economic, social, cultural, scientific importance and its national and global significance. It is one of the last remnants of an ecosystem that was once common on this planet.

The pristine Gulf of Mannar now faces the most crucial threat from the Sethusamudram Shipping Canal Project (SSCP).  The Canal will destroy the unique and fragile marine ecology of the area through constant dredging to maintain a canal depth of about 10-14 m. Aside from the immediate area of the sea bed, the consistent churning of sediment will also smother the coral reefs. The increase in shipping traffic will inevitably result in an increase in oil spills and marine pollution.

Our already endangered marine ecosystems are the lifeblood of our planet and it is of grave concern to me that what nature has shaped in the course of billions of years will be destroyed forever if the SSCP is allowed to proceed. The ecology of the Gulf of Mannar and its significance as an ancient pilgrimage site are a heritage for the whole of humanity and must not be defiled.

Moreover, India is a Member of the UN Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (also known as CMS or Bonn Convention), which protects the endangered species of the Gulf of Mannar. According to the principles of this Convention, "Members should strive towards strictly protecting these animals, conserving or restoring the habitats in which they live, mitigating obstacles to migration and controlling other factors that might endanger them." Should your Government decide to go ahead with the SSCP, India would be in violation of the principles of the Convention.

I urge you to scrap the SSCP and ensure that the Gulf of Mannar is designated as a World Heritage Site under the criteria established by UNESCO.  With the Gulf of Mannar designated as a UNESCO World Heritage site, you can leave a lasting legacy of reinvigorated hope for saving our fragile environment .for our future generations.  A World Heritage designation with such prestigious international value is a source of great pride for the people of India.

Yours sincerely,

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