Editorial Take a relook on Sethusamudram feasibility
Tuesday, June 28, 2022
  • Circulation
  • Advertise
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
Organiser
  • ‌
  • Bharat
  • World
  • Editorial
  • Analysis
  • Opinion
  • Defence
  • Sports
  • Business
  • More
    • RSS in News
    • Special Report
    • Culture
    • Sci & Tech
    • Entertainment
    • Education
    • Books
    • Interviews
    • Travel
    • Health
    • Obituary
SUBSCRIBE
No Result
View All Result
Organiser
  • ‌
  • Bharat
  • World
  • Editorial
  • Analysis
  • Opinion
  • Defence
  • Sports
  • Business
  • More
    • RSS in News
    • Special Report
    • Culture
    • Sci & Tech
    • Entertainment
    • Education
    • Books
    • Interviews
    • Travel
    • Health
    • Obituary
No Result
View All Result
Organiser
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Bharat
  • World
  • Editorial
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Culture
  • Defence
  • RSS in News
  • Subscribe
Home General

Editorial Take a relook on Sethusamudram feasibility

Archive Manager by WEB DESK
Jul 29, 2007, 12:00 am IST
in General
Jeay Sindh Freedom Movement chairman Sohail Abro

Jeay Sindh Freedom Movement chairman Sohail Abro

Share on FacebookShare on TwitterTelegramEmail

The Sethusamudram Canal Project, which will cost the government a whopping Rs 2400 crore, is once again mired into a controversy as a new report prepared by navigational experts has questioned its economic viability with solid statistical backup.

The canal being built from the Gulf of Mannar to the Bay of Bengal is expected to be a continuous navigable sea route around the Indian Peninsula which according to the proponents of SSCP will cut down shipping time and cost drastically and earn substantial income to the exchequer.

But this according to the experts is a pipe dream and is likely to become not only a security and environmental disaster but also a white elephant draining valuable national income. According to maritime experts it is a deadweight project sure to sink.

The report, to be published soon, a copy of which has come to us from one of its authors, is an indepth study taken up independently by a team of infrastructure and environmental economists and marine experts and has exposed huge loopholes in the arguments advanced by the Shipping Minister T.R. Balu. The Minister'sobstinate, obsessive defence of the project and the centre'scavalier attitude in going ahead with it in its present format do not make any economic sense, if the expert opinion is any guide.

We have a detailed write up on the subject in this issue by one of the experts. The project seems to have been approved by the centre in indecent and inexplicable hurry. It did not consider the post-tsunami environmental aspects though experts had repeatedly warned against going ahead before reworking on the safety aspects. Navigational experts point out that in coast-to-coast travel from the west to east coast of India the travel time saved by the canal route will be negligible and hence it is unlikely that shippers use the canal.

The project was given the go ahead on the premise that almost 70 per cent of traffic and revenue will come from noncoastal ships meaning those ships that travel into the country from Europe, Africa and elsewhere. For these ships? projected saving in distance and time is on an average less than a day and this saving is economically unviable considering other added disadvantages like costs of dredging the canal every year, use of higher quality fuel to keep carbon deposits in the canal at a minimum. All this will reduce any running costs saved by ships by taking the shorter route, these experts point out.

There are already reports suggesting lack of business by this route. Though the canal is proposed to be operational by 2008 end, so far no national or foreign shipping companies have signed on the dotted line. This has prompted experts to further question whether it is worth putting in billions into a project that is unlikely to mop up substantial returns.

Added to the economic concerns is the fear of terror strikes. LTTE has displayed considerable ingenuity and daring in sea-borne insurgency and has carried out several attacks on Sri Lankan naval ships. It is pertinent to note, the experts say, that the SSCP is a next-door neighbour in the area of operations of the Sea Tigers.

Any alert government would have taken into consideration all these fresh arguments against the viability of the project, instead of standing on ego. The Chennai High Court has recently cautioned the authorities against destroying the natural heritage which millions worship as Ram Sethu. The project was controversial from the beginning. In fact, it was strongly opposed by various people on various grounds and that was why it took over six decades to get central clearance. It violates all sentiments of the Indian; religious, environmental, ecological, security and economic. It is sensible for the centre to take a relook at the SSCP in the light of emerging new evidences.

ShareTweetSendShareSend
Previous News

World Environment: Relevance of ancient wisdom of Indian sages

Next News

Bookmark The power of Herbs

Related News

Agnipath, a Potential Gamechanger

Agnipath, a Potential Gamechanger

China’s claims over Tibet baseless; Tibet was never a part of China before PRC invasion in 1950, says Official Records

China’s claims over Tibet baseless; Tibet was never a part of China before PRC invasion in 1950, says Official Records

Here is why Mohammed Zubair, co-founder of leftist propaganda site AltNews was arrested

Here is why Mohammed Zubair, co-founder of leftist propaganda site AltNews was arrested

PM Modi’s gifts to G7 leaders showcase Uttar Pradesh’s one district one product scheme

PM Modi’s gifts to G7 leaders showcase Uttar Pradesh’s one district one product scheme

The Gujarat Model: Everything you need to know

Economic growth in Gujarat is linked to peace

‘Constitution is not a Book, but a Thought and Commitment’: PM Modi

‘Constitution is not a Book, but a Thought and Commitment’: PM Modi

Comments

The comments posted here/below/in the given space are not on behalf of Organiser. The person posting the comment will be in sole ownership of its responsibility. According to the central government's IT rules, obscene or offensive statement made against a person, religion, community or nation is a punishable offense, and legal action would be taken against people who indulge in such activities.

Latest News

Agnipath, a Potential Gamechanger

Agnipath, a Potential Gamechanger

China’s claims over Tibet baseless; Tibet was never a part of China before PRC invasion in 1950, says Official Records

China’s claims over Tibet baseless; Tibet was never a part of China before PRC invasion in 1950, says Official Records

Here is why Mohammed Zubair, co-founder of leftist propaganda site AltNews was arrested

Here is why Mohammed Zubair, co-founder of leftist propaganda site AltNews was arrested

PM Modi’s gifts to G7 leaders showcase Uttar Pradesh’s one district one product scheme

PM Modi’s gifts to G7 leaders showcase Uttar Pradesh’s one district one product scheme

The Gujarat Model: Everything you need to know

Economic growth in Gujarat is linked to peace

‘Constitution is not a Book, but a Thought and Commitment’: PM Modi

‘Constitution is not a Book, but a Thought and Commitment’: PM Modi

Presidential Poll: Janpath to Rajpath

Presidential Poll: Janpath to Rajpath

Indian women are fully involved in real decision-making: PM Modi

Indian women are fully involved in real decision-making: PM Modi

Agnipath Recruitment Scheme, Benefit For All

Shattering Criticisms: Visualising “Agnipath” through the prism of Pragmatism, Optimism and Realism

Presidential elections: Asaduddin Owaisi’s AIMIM extends support to opposition candidate Yashwant Sinha

Presidential elections: Asaduddin Owaisi’s AIMIM extends support to opposition candidate Yashwant Sinha

  • Privacy
  • Terms
  • Cookie Policy
  • Refund and Cancellation
  • Delivery and Shipping Policy

© Bharat Prakashan (Delhi) Limited.
Tech-enabled by Ananthapuri Technologies

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Bharat
  • World
  • Editorial
  • Analysis
  • Opinion
  • Defence
  • Culture
  • Sports
  • Business
  • RSS in News
  • Special Report
  • Sci & Tech
  • Entertainment
  • Education
  • Books
  • Interviews
  • Travel
  • Health
  • Obituary
  • Subscribe
  • Advertise
  • Circulation
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms of Use
  • Refund and Cancellation

© Bharat Prakashan (Delhi) Limited.
Tech-enabled by Ananthapuri Technologies