| |
April 29, 2008
At a time when there is a World-wide concern
about the deteriorating state of the global
ecology and environment, the Government of India
is pursuing the Sethusamudram Ship Channel Project
(SSCP) in the Gulf of Mannar/ Palk Bay/ Palk
Strait and seems to have forgotten about the
importance of management and sustainable use
of the marine environment and the ocean's role
in global climate. The Government of India also
fails to recognize there is support among the
international community for the conservation
of the Gulf of Mannar Marine Biosphere Reserve
and Adam's Bridge (Ram Sethu). Alongside, there
is a parallel concern that the fate of the SSCP
now rests with the Supreme Court of India and
the next hearing is scheduled for May 1st, 2008.
It is a matter of concern that, in his pronouncements
at the Sethusamudram Project hearings in the
Apex Court on April 15th, the Hon. Chief Justice
of India focused on questioning the veracity
of Ram Sethu as a place of worship which over-shadowed
the other equally vital arguments raised against
this project by marine archeologists, ecologists,
economists, environmentalists, seismologists,
oceanographers and people living along the coastline
- namely environmental, economic and social
impacts of the SSCP.
There is unanimous agreement among political,
religious and scientific communities in India
as well as abroad that the SSCP has been inaugurated
without any detailed review of the views of
important stakeholder groups. According to Ocean
and Environment scientists from CISSA, "the
EIA studies and TFR on the basis of which clearance
has been given for the project have not taken
into account the fact that this is the first
time in the world that a canal is being planned
in mid ocean. There is no previous experience
for guidance. It is not correct to make comparisons
with Suez and Panama canals. Unlike these land-
based canals, the proposed canal would be a
part of an open body, subject to forces of frequent
and unpredictable storms, cyclones, Tsunamis
and other natural hazards".
Statements such as these and others raise concerns
of the absence of due diligence in preparing
a project of such national and international
significance. We would like to cite several
reasons for these concerns:
·
ENVIRONMENTAL/ECOLOGICAL: The project will potentially
invade the Gulf of Mannar, which is one of South
Asia's largest biosphere reserves, covering
an area of 10,500 square kilometers. This area
contains a wealth of ecological systems, which
consist of terrestrial, coastal and marine flora
and fauna of which 377 are unique to the region.
Additionally, there are more than 100 species
of corals and it is home to, and provides vital
mating and nesting habitat for such as whales,
dolphins, sea horse, sea snakes and the endangered
turtles and dugongs. The coral reefs, which
surround the islands, are highly productive
and are often referred to as "underwater
tropical rain forest" and a treasure house
for marine ornamental fishes. The Palk Bay section
of the project is ecologically sensitive, with
sea grass meadows, corals, and other unique
examples of biological diversity.
· ADAM'S BRIDGE (RAM SETHU) AS A BREAKWATER:
The Gulf of Mannar is a major sedimentation
sink for the east coast. While the causes for
the sedimentation are Indian and Sri Lankan
rivers and long shore currents, what makes the
area a sink is perhaps the presence of Adam's
Bridge (Ram Sethu) that acts as a natural breakwater.
By that token, Adam's Bridge (Ram Sethu) has
also made the marine biosphere possible. It
is safe to conclude that Adam's Bridge (Ram
Sethu), acting as a breakwater, induces a certain
stillness and calm in the Gulf of Mannar. More
than three thousand six hundred species of plants
and animals have flourished over the centuries
due to this calm. As opposed to the Palk Bay,
the Gulf of Mannar is over three hundred meters
deep in most places. Because of the unique circulation
of ocean currents, the nutrients to be found
here are exceptional. Should Adam's Bridge (Ram
Sethu) be breached, the shallow silted waters
of the Palk Bay will flow into the Gulf of Mannar,
destroying its fragile ecosystem.
· MARINE LIFE: The EIA report by NEERI
acknowledges the presence of corals, sea fans,
sponges, pearl oysters, mollusks and sea cucumbers
along the canal. The EIA report further states,
"Due to dredging, the bottom flora and
fauna on an area of about 6 km squared along
the canal alignment in Adam's Bridge and about
16-17 km squared in Palk Bay/Palk Strait area
will be lost permanently." The dredging
activity will result in a permanent loss of
these species, all of which are protected under
the Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.
Corals are Schedule-I species, which means the
Indian government accords it the same protected
status as a tiger. It is surprising that this
important aspect is being overlooked in this
case.
· HUMAN LIVELIHOOD: According to the
Coastal Action Network (a group representing
fishermen's interests in Tamil Nadu), "one
lakh families who will be immediately affected
by the SSCP will incur losses of Rs 24,000 crores
in terms of household assets and loss of livelihood
assets," The project would affect at least
six of Tamil Nadu's 13 coastal districts, hundreds
of fishing villages and lakhs of fishermen.
More than 138 villages and towns spread over
five districts depend heavily on the fishery
resources of the Gulf and depend directly on
the biodiversity resources of the Biosphere
reserve for their livelihood. The lives of the
traditional fisher folk, who are already fighting
a losing battle against the giant commercial
fishing industry that has intruded into their
territory with mechanized equipment, would be
completely disrupted. On the Sri Lankan side
fertile fishing grounds in Mannar, Puttlam,
Chilaw, and Negombo would be totally destroyed
and would have an impact not only on about 50,000
Sri Lankan fishermen, but others connected with
the fishing industry, resulting in substantial
unemployment or underemployment contributing
to poverty. Sri Lanka will have to increase
the amount of fish imported to the country at
great expense.
· AFFECTS ON AGRICULTURE: In the Northern
Province of Sri Lanka there is a major concern,
as the dredging would have a catastrophic effect
on the water table increasing the salinity content
of the drinking and irrigational water. This
would have a drastic economic impact, destroying
the livelihood of many farmers. Both these negative
impacts would have a serious effect on the production
of food, and marine products, thereby affecting
the GDP of the country as well as increasing
the unemployment especially in related activities.
· PROJECT ECONOMICS: A major aim of
the proposed project is to save ship time, fuel,
transport costs and to make it attractive. Is
the project really worth as much as its proponents
claim? Critics say that it is unlikely to remain
on budget, because the costs of dredging (its
primary expense) have been grossly underestimated.
The revenues, too, may be less than the scale
that is being projected. Jacob John, an economist
based in Bangalore, is the author of one such
analysis. He estimates that financial incentive
for foreign ships to use the canal will be far
less than what has been suggested. The canal's
limited depth will allow only ships with a draught
(the distance from a ship's lowest point to
the water's surface) of 10 meters or less to
use it. This constraint is critical. Revenue
from these ships was supposed to provide two-thirds
of the canal's income. Also, if the industry
pushes for deepening the canal it would be both
economically and environmentally unviable.
· POTENTIAL DAMAGE DUE TO A MARINE ACCIDENT/GENERAL
POLLUTION: Maritime accidents resulting in serious
pollution is a distinct possibility and pose
serious concern as they would be very detrimental
to the beaches, including sea erosion and pollution.
Creating shipping lanes will bring in well-known
pollution into the area and mankind will loose
forever a part of its precious and fragile environment.
· ADAM'S BRIDGE (RAM SETHU) AS A SACRED
SYMBOL OF FAITH: The bridge is an ancient monument
held sacred by millions of Hindus around the
world, Destroying Ram Sethu is offensive to
the religious sentiments of millions of Hindus
worldwide who look upon Ram Sethu as a sacred
symbol of their faith, heritage and history
that can no longer be ignored. Structures such
as Taj Mahal in Agra and Kutub Minar in Delhi
were, after all, protected by the government
from potential harm posed by development projects
like the Metro Rail project.
· CULTURAL PERSPECTIVE: References to
Kumari Kandam can be found in the Tamil literature.
Inferring from these references suggest that
extensive land areas occupied by the Tamils
have been lost to the sea due to massive tidal
waves or tsunami. Dr. Ranil Senanayake, a leading
Scientist from Sri Lanka asks, "the question
before us is this; " does the area that
lies between India and Sri Lanka represent the
drowned land of Kumari Kandam or is it merely
a nondescript ocean bottom with a few sand mounds?'
According to the Islamic account, Adam used
the bridge to reach Adam's Peak in Sri Lanka
where he stood in repentance for 1,000 years.
In the light of the above concerns we urge
the Supreme Court of India to suspend the SSCP
and set up an independent Commission that will
oversee a second round of consultations. This
is to ensure that views of important stakeholder
groups not consulted in the first round are
taken into account. This should include the
oft-repeated warnings, highly critical reviews
and troubling questions raised by specialists,
experts and religious leaders. We appeal to
the Supreme Court Justice to look into his own
heart and the turtles and the dugogns of the
Gulf of Mannar will always have one perfect
home, where their newborns can enter the world
as Mother Nature intended -- wild and free.
The plight of our Planet must be taken into
account for the future generations who shall
inherit what's left of the environment. Is money
and mindless greed going to be our generation's
legacy? We pray not.
ENDS
CONTACT: Kusum Vyas
Living Planet Foundation on 713 876 5400 or
kusumvyas@sbcglobal.net
www.livingplanetfoundation.org
|
