National security imperative: mine warfare threat in Palk Strait-Gulf of Mannar; scrap Setu project
The following opinion by Com. RS Vasan, expressed on 22 March 2008, comparable to the opinion expressed by Capt. (Retd.) Balakrishnan, IN questions the credibility of the statement made in the so-called ‘Eminent Persons’ Committee Report on Setusamudram Project.
The Chairman, Dr. S. Ramachandran, who has written this section of the Report is NO security expert. That his views are biased and riddled with conflicts of interest and that he is a devotee of CM of Tamil Nadu are dealt with elsewhere.
I am appending the opinions of security experts.
The Indian Naval Chief and the DG of the Coast Guard have already gone record to warn of the national security and even earlier the Defence Ministry has gone on record with the Lakshminarayan Committee to veto the project.
In one page concerning ‘Security dimensions of Sethusamudram Ship Channel Project’ in Section 5.6.4, it is noted: “Unfortunately, the threat by LTTE has been blown beyond the proportion. Firstly, LTTE cannot launch any misadventure against the mighty Indian Navy, secondly, LTTE’s naval engagement continues with Sri Lankan military and navy.”
This shocking statement simply ignores the fact that the proposed channel is just, exactly 3 kms. west of the medial line between India and Sri Lanka. At an approach of 50 to 100 km. from the Srilankan side of this medial line, it should be possible for a floating mine to to be triggered.
It is also shocking that the Committee just ignores the LTTE threat and does not even estimate the additional costs to the project if Indian Navy has to be equipped to safeguard a channel in the straits away from the blue waters. These costs are directly attributable to the project and should be a legitimate charge on the project capital costs. If this happens, the economic viability of the project needs de novo examination and security implications should be re-evaluated on a top priority basis and a decision should be made to scrap the project all together.
These recorded statements have serious national security and economic implications and question the sustainability of the project to benefit present and future generations. There will be additional costs to be incurred by the Indian Navy in strengthening the capabilities to defend a narrow mid-ocean channel with little manoueverability for naval formations. These additional security costs directly related to the channel created by the project should be reckoned as project economic costs, which will render the SSCP a sick unit ab initio and negate the statements made about this being a profit-making venture which it is NOT. It is clear from the project records that additional security costs have NOT been computed and taken into reckoning in the economic-financial viability studies.
The committee has alluded to the 'blue water' capabilities of the Indian Navy. They forget the fact that the waters of the SSCP are in technicality 'brown waters' or shallow waters. With limited sea-room for maneuvering and shallow depths, these waters negate the deployment of the Indian Navy's 'Blue water forces'. The Navy will have to now, perforce, go in for acquisitions of specially designed fast attack crafts of high manoueverability and speed, as also of shallow draft to facilitate close in-shore operations to counter the threat posed by LTTE Sea Tigers.
The analysis by the Eminent Persons Committee pre-supposes a conventional form of naval warfare against two Navies. This is NOT so. Security analysts have now come to the conclusion that this form of warfare that fits a conventional force against a non-state actor as an 'asymmetric warfare'. Therefore, the Indian Navy is faced with an asymmetric threat from a non-state actor like the LTTE. There are no rules in this game with the important factor of 'surprise' invariably resting with the non-state actor.
The Committee does NOT appear to have given due consideration to the aspect of mine-threat in the SSCP. The very fact that the Sri Lankan Navy in January 2008 had resorted to mining the approaches to Katchativu and Delft islands indicates the fact that the waters in and around SSCP are eminently suited for mine-warfare. In such a scenario, the Indian Navy will be hard-put in undertaking Mine-Counter-Measures (MCM) operations. This could be the reason why the Indian Navy's Admiral and DG Coast Guard have gone public with their concerns. In any case, there are enough written reports by security analysts indicating the use of various types of mines by the LTTE Sea Tigers.
The Committee does NOT appear to have taken due cognizance of the threat-perceitons brought out in the report (Part 6 titled, "SSCP and Security") presented by Capt. (Retd.) H. Balakrishnan, IN. The threat-perceptions stated in this Report include: maritime piracy, maritime terrorism and mine threat. Capt. Balakrishnan had concluded his paper by stating "it is to be hoped, in the larger interests of national security the Committee, the Min. of Defence/Indian Navy/Coast Guard will be brought into the loop formulating security policies for the SSCP."
National security is too serious and vital matter to be left to the dictates of parochial, regional politics and the so-called coalition dharma.
The Committee's Report is one-sided and does NOT take into account over 8000 pages of submissions made related to about 160 topics impinging upon the stability of the proposed channel, dangers to national security and wealth of the nation, atomic mineral resources of the coastline and dangers posed by tsunami threats and mine-warfare threats. There has been no consideration of issues related to international law of the sea in view of the publicized concerns of Sri Lanka, the neighbouring country and their 34 experts who have recorded the possibility of disruption of water supply to Rameshwaram and Jaffna and the erosion/sinking of 85 islands of Sri Lanka.
On all accounts, including national security imperative, SSCP should be scrapped forthwith.
Dr. S. Kalyanaraman
Incident analysis: Sinking of SLN Dvora craft on 22nd March 2008
Guest Column byCommodore RS Vasan IN (Retd)
The sinking of a Sri Lankan Navy Fast Attack Craft P 438 on the night of 22nd March was reported. However, it appears that this incident has not been fully analysed or even if such an analysis was undertaken by the SLN the details have been withheld got obvious reasons. The Sri Lankan Government sources on 23rd March 2008 published a report with headlines ‘ Navy Fast Attack Craft sinks in mystery blast; 6 crewmembers survive ‘ The full report is given below: -
A Sri Lanka Navy Fast Attack Craft (FAC) has been caught in a possible underwater blast this morning (March 22). According to the defence sources, the locally built P438 deployed in northeastern coastal waters off Nayaru has sunk due the blast that occurred around 2.30.a.m.
Upon the receipt of the SOS message from the sinking craft other sea units have immediately launched a search and rescue mission in the area. According to the naval sources, 6 of the 16 crewmembers, including the Officer in Charge of the craft have been rescued so far.
The survivors have reported an underwater blast that damaged the boat's hull and caused it to be sunk in a short time. According to the survivors there has been no sea confrontation nor any LTTE craft were present in the area. Navy suspects the blast has caused by a possible sea mine or due to some underwater weapon developed by the terrorists.
Search and rescue mission continues.
The SL Navy’s report on its web, which had little, more details had this to say about the incident: -
One locally built fast Attack craft out the two on routine patrol off Nayaru caught in an explosion in the wee hours today-the 22nd March, around 0200 hrs.
The boat being caught in the explosion started to take in water making it difficult for the crew to manoeuvre it to safe area. The impending consequence was unavoidable peril leaving the crew with no alternative other than abandoning the craft. Then they got onto life rafts and started drifting. Six members of the crew have thereafter been rescued by other boats. A search operation is still underway.
It is suspected that LTTE had unscrupulously laid sea mines in a bid of avenge due repeated losses in the recent past.
The report clearly suggests that there were no other boats in the vicinity nor was there a sea confrontation. The report indicated that the Navy suspected that either sea mines were used or “some underwater weapon’ developed by the terrorists. This analysis examines the possibilities of what could have caused the FAC to sink.
The Tamilnet quoting LTTE sources reported the sinking and credited three sea tigers including two women for the sinking of the attack craft. The names were given out, as Lt. Col. Anpumaran, Major Niranjani and Major Kaninila were the Black Sea Tigers killed in action. While the SLN said that there was no confrontation and the sinking took place due to a possible sea mine, the Tamil net claimed that the three black tigers engaged the attack craft. While the Tamil net said that fourteen crewmembers were dead, the SLN reported rescuing of six of the crewmembers.
Use of Sea mines. Discussions on the type of mines and their impact have been discussed in paper number 2573 http://southasiaanalysis.org/papers26/paper2573.html carried on 31 January 2008 by this website. When the SL Navy made the announcement about the use of sea mines on its side of the IBL as a deterrent against the LTTE craft, it was obvious that if the SL Navy could use it, the LTTE could also resort to the use of mines in select areas. Knowing the technical and innovative ability of the LTTE the use of sea mines is hardly beyond their ability even if they have to improvise due to severing of the supply lines from the sea. As the readers are aware, the sinking of over a dozen sea going ships of the LTTE at extended ranges from the Sri Lankan shores has affected the capability of the LTTE. However, this has only forced the LTTE to find substitute material from the southern states of India.
Despite this limitation, it would not be a surprise, if some improvised floating sea mines were released by the LTTE in the expected patrol areas of the SLN craft based on intelligence and observation of movement of vessels. Depending on the depth in the area the possibility of using moored or ground mines in the area of operation of the SL Navy cannot also be ruled out. This incident of sinking of P 438 as it is reported to have taken place in deep waters indicating the ability of LTTE to strike in deep waters by using its underwater means be it mines or divers.
As per some reports on the official website The Sri Lankan Navy has not ruled out the possibility of a limpet mine being attached by the divers. However the fact that the Tamil net mentions about the engagement lasting 40 minutes prior to the sinking of the boat, precludes the use of limpet, mines. It is pointless to first attach a limpet mine and then engage the craft by black tigers.
Were underwater scooters/divers used? Some discussions are in order about “some underwater weapon” as reported to have been developed by the terrorists. What could this be is a question that would have many answers. One has to only go back to the reports carried some five years ago on 15th April 2003. The full report carried under the heading “LTTE use talks to obtain underwater scooters” is available on http://www.spur.asn.au/News_2003_April_15.htm
It was reported that the LTTE team had used its negotiating team in March 2003, during the CFA period to procure 34 underwater scooters from Denmark. The underwater scooters are mostly used by under water divers for sports and recreation. However, knowing the penchant of LTTE for innovation, they obviously decided that this could be used as a weapon. It is not known as to the fate of these 34 scooters and if the Sea Tigers used the same scooters. But if that could be procured then, one could procure the item under underwater sports category even today. A mere Internet search for underwater scooters revealed so many manufacturers from China to Australia to Norway. The range of underwater scooters allowed one to buy a scooter for as low as 800 dollars and up to 2000 dollars depending on one’s need.
Majority of the scooters are lightweight contraptions (15-20 kg), which could give an underwater speed of up to 1- 3 knots and could stay underwater at considerable depths for up to more than an hour. Using this device, a trained diver could easily remain underwater in the vicinity; carry enough explosives strapped on one’s person and carry out limited manoeuvre to detonate next to the patrol vessel with out being spotted. After all the LTTE is not new to loading boats, trawlers and humans with explosives for suicide attack. Essentially, this concept is nothing new as the concept of human torpedoes is as old as torpedoes themselves. The essential difference is that the scooters are much smaller than the chariots used by two divers for clandestine operations and enhance the staying capability of a frogman. There has been recorded use of divers on chariots for under water warfare by Italians, Germans, British and the Japanese during World War II. While some of them, which carried two frogmen, were designed to attach limpet mines to the underwater hull portion or propellers, the Japanese did contemplate the use of suicide divers.
It may be recalled that two frogmen were caught off Colombo on 17th Jun 2006 in an unsuccessful attempt to attach explosives on ships in the harbour. The divers who were caught did not succeed in swallowing the cyanide pills to commit suicide.
In conclusion, since the LTTE has acknowledged the loss of three of its cadres, the use of underwater scooters/chariots and explosive strapped black tigers this modus operandi appears to be the most probable cause of sinking of the patrol craft. The LTTE/fishing boats could also have been used to lure the patrol boat towards them thus bringing the craft in the harms way. While the type of threat itself is nothing new, if it is clearly established that a human torpedo or a sea mine of what ever description was used against one of the patrol craft successfully, then it does change the aspects of sea control by the SL Navy in its areas of operations. The Sri Lankan Navy which has enjoyed recent successes in its sea encounters has every reason to be worried about the type of the renewed under water threat that it faces now. It would now need to reevaluate its operational tactics adopt new methods to counter the threats posed by the Sea tigers.
(The author with distinguished naval and coast guard service for over 34 years is presently with Observer Research Foundation and is steering the Maritime Security Programme under the aegis of International Security Studies (ISS), headed by General VP Malik former Army Chief)
http://www.southasiaanalysis.org/papers27/paper2652.html
See: http://setubandha.blogspot.com/2008/03/rama-setu-mine-warfare-in-palk-straits.html Rama Setu: mine warfare in Palk Straits_Gulf of Mannar
http://setubandha.blogspot.com/2008/03/sscp-and-national-security.html SSCP and national security; scrap Setu project
http://setubandha.blogspot.com/2008/03/warning-to-sscp-security-lanka-vessel.html Warning to SSCP security: Lanka vessel sinks
1.Dr. Acharya’s views http://setubandha.blogspot.com/2008/03/ltte-poses-threat-to-sscp-experts-scrap.html
LTTE poses threat to SSCP – Experts; scrap Setu project
By KUMAR CHELLAPPAN
Chennai (Deccan Chronicle, 28 March, 2008)
Ships passing through the proposed Sethusamudram Shipping Channel (SSCP) will be under the mercy of Sea Tigers, the naval wing of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), according to leading security analysts. They point out that Sea Tigers have established their supremacy as a ‘state-of-the-art maritime terrorist organisation' in the Indian Ocean region, especially the SSCP area which is under construction. Last Saturday's blowing up of an Advanced Patrol Vessel belonging substantiates the ‘expertise' of the Sea Tigers in mining fast moving sea vessels. "Sea Tigers, has effectively gained control in the waters off Jaffna and the north east of Sri Lanka," said Dr Peter Lehr, security scientist, University of St Andrews, UK. "Sea Tigers are a threat to Indian and Sri Lankan shipping," said Dr Lehr.Dr Arabinda Acharya, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, pointed out that the Sea Tigers periodically hijacked ships passing through their waters. "Hijackings are carried out irrespective of the nationality. Irish Mona, Princess Wave, Athena, Missen, Morong Bong, are some of the major cargo vessels hijacked by the Sea Tigers," said Dr Acharya. A serving chief officer of a leading navigation company told this newspaper that ships below 30,000 DWT capacity were more vulnerable to hijacking in the waters around the North East Sri Lanka.
"These ships are manned by hardly 20 persons and it is not a tough task for the Tigers to overpower them and hijack the ships," said the skipper who did not want to be named. It may be noted that SSCP is meant for smaller ships.
Of late, the LTTE's arms inventory has been strengthened by underwater scooters purchased from Denmark to attack military as well as civilian commercial vessels, according to Dr Acharya. Black Sea Tigers, the suicide wing of Sea Tigers, have become a highly lethal weapon against the Sri Lankan Navy. "The LTTE operatives are well trained in scuba diving and in the use of under water explosive devises including sea mines," said Dr Acharya.
http://www.dcepaper.com/deccanchronicle/ArticleText.aspx?article=28_03_2008_003_001
Saturday, March 29, 2008
Thursday, March 27, 2008
LTTE poses threat to SSCP – Experts; scrap Setu project
LTTE poses threat to SSCP – Experts; scrap Setu project
By KUMAR CHELLAPPAN
Chennai (Deccan Chronicle, 28 March, 2008)
Ships passing through the proposed Sethusamudram Shipping Channel (SSCP) will be under the mercy of Sea Tigers, the naval wing of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), according to leading security analysts. They point out that Sea Tigers have established their supremacy as a ‘state-of-the-art maritime terrorist organisation' in the Indian Ocean region, especially the SSCP area which is under construction. Last Saturday's blowing up of an Advanced Patrol Vessel belonging substantiates the ‘expertise' of the Sea Tigers in mining fast moving sea vessels. "Sea Tigers, has effectively gained control in the waters off Jaffna and the north east of Sri Lanka," said Dr Peter Lehr, security scientist, University of St Andrews, UK. "Sea Tigers are a threat to Indian and Sri Lankan shipping," said Dr Lehr.Dr Arabinda Acharya, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, pointed out that the Sea Tigers periodically hijacked ships passing through their waters. "Hijackings are carried out irrespective of the nationality. Irish Mona, Princess Wave, Athena, Missen, Morong Bong, are some of the major cargo vessels hijacked by the Sea Tigers," said Dr Acharya. A serving chief officer of a leading navigation company told this newspaper that ships below 30,000 DWT capacity were more vulnerable to hijacking in the waters around the North East Sri Lanka.
"These ships are manned by hardly 20 persons and it is not a tough task for the Tigers to overpower them and hijack the ships," said the skipper who did not want to be named. It may be noted that SSCP is meant for smaller ships.
Of late, the LTTE's arms inventory has been strengthened by underwater scooters purchased from Denmark to attack military as well as civilian commercial vessels, according to Dr Acharya. Black Sea Tigers, the suicide wing of Sea Tigers, have become a highly lethal weapon against the Sri Lankan Navy. "The LTTE operatives are well trained in scuba diving and in the use of under water explosive devises including sea mines," said Dr Acharya.
http://www.dc-epaper.com/deccanchronicle/ArticleText.aspx?article=28_03_2008_003_001
By KUMAR CHELLAPPAN
Chennai (Deccan Chronicle, 28 March, 2008)
Ships passing through the proposed Sethusamudram Shipping Channel (SSCP) will be under the mercy of Sea Tigers, the naval wing of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), according to leading security analysts. They point out that Sea Tigers have established their supremacy as a ‘state-of-the-art maritime terrorist organisation' in the Indian Ocean region, especially the SSCP area which is under construction. Last Saturday's blowing up of an Advanced Patrol Vessel belonging substantiates the ‘expertise' of the Sea Tigers in mining fast moving sea vessels. "Sea Tigers, has effectively gained control in the waters off Jaffna and the north east of Sri Lanka," said Dr Peter Lehr, security scientist, University of St Andrews, UK. "Sea Tigers are a threat to Indian and Sri Lankan shipping," said Dr Lehr.Dr Arabinda Acharya, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, pointed out that the Sea Tigers periodically hijacked ships passing through their waters. "Hijackings are carried out irrespective of the nationality. Irish Mona, Princess Wave, Athena, Missen, Morong Bong, are some of the major cargo vessels hijacked by the Sea Tigers," said Dr Acharya. A serving chief officer of a leading navigation company told this newspaper that ships below 30,000 DWT capacity were more vulnerable to hijacking in the waters around the North East Sri Lanka.
"These ships are manned by hardly 20 persons and it is not a tough task for the Tigers to overpower them and hijack the ships," said the skipper who did not want to be named. It may be noted that SSCP is meant for smaller ships.
Of late, the LTTE's arms inventory has been strengthened by underwater scooters purchased from Denmark to attack military as well as civilian commercial vessels, according to Dr Acharya. Black Sea Tigers, the suicide wing of Sea Tigers, have become a highly lethal weapon against the Sri Lankan Navy. "The LTTE operatives are well trained in scuba diving and in the use of under water explosive devises including sea mines," said Dr Acharya.
http://www.dc-epaper.com/deccanchronicle/ArticleText.aspx?article=28_03_2008_003_001
Monday, March 24, 2008
Border security including Setusamudram security in danger
Border security including Setusamudram security in danger
March 30, 2008
Border security in danger
The Akhil Bharatiya Pratinidhi Sabha (ABPS) wishes to draw the attention of the entire nation towards the porous nature of our borders and the concomitant threat looming from all sides. Of particularly serious concern is the situation along the Himalayas, which were once believed to be an insurmountable natural boundary. With large tracts including Aksai-chin in Laddakh and Kailash Mansarover, already under its occupation after it became our neighbour following its annexation of Tibet in 1959, China started making fresh claims over many more areas like Arunachal Pradesh making the border question a much more serious one calling for urgent attention.
The ABPS reminds the country of the recent statement by the Union External Affairs Minister in the Lok Sabha that the Chinese are making claims over 100,000 sq. km. area followed by the admission of senior Army officials about the repeated incursions by the Chinese Army in the Tawang region of Arunachal Pradesh. The ABPS commends the Members of Parliament in Lok Sabha and the people from that region for vigorously campaigning against these border violations thus drawing the attention of the political establishment as well as the entire nation.
The ABPS cautions that any complacent attitude in dealing with China on the border question would be fraught with serious consequences. It is most unfortunate that despite knowing the aggressionist and expansionist nature of China our negotiators have allowed ambiguous clauses like ‘populated and unpopulated areas’ etc. to be made into negotiable issues thus allowing that country to exploit maximum diplomatic advantage. The ABPS expresses satisfaction that owing to popular pressure our Government categorically reiterated that the entire Arunachal Pradesh is an integral part of our country.
The ABPS calls upon the Government to follow up its declarations with concrete steps to secure our borders by immediately upgrading infrastructure facilities along our border with China. While the Chinese have built all-weather roads, wide railway network and high frequency communication systems all along their side of the border to serve strategic and military requirements we still lag behind on our side of the border in these matters.
The ABPS also demands that each and every post along China border be fully and strongly fortified so as to prevent any further incursions from the other side and to give a fitting reply in the event of border violations.
Porous nature of our land borders is a major cause of worry for the ABPS. Unchecked influx of illegal immigrants from Bangladesh is changing the demographic profile of a large number of districts along Bharat-Bangladesh border besides posing a serious threat to internal security all over the country. Bharat-Burma border along our North East too remains largely porous. Instances of foreigners trying to acquire land along our sensitive Western and Eastern borders have also come to light. The ABPS calls upon the Government to do all the needful ensuring that these borders are properly sealed by way of fencing, increasing number of border outposts, improving infrastructure along the borders and strengthening the presence of our forces there. There is need of creating special agency for border management as part of the Defence Ministry for effective implementation of these measures.
Instability in two important neighbours i.e. Pakistan and Nepal too is putting a lot of pressure on our border security. The ABPS welcomes the categorical assertion of our defence establishment against reducing troop presence in the troubled J&K State. With situation in Afghanistan too turning further volatile, our border along the LoC and the remaining western front needs strict vigil. Growing Maoist activity along Indo-Nepal border in hitherto untouched states like Uttarakhand must be addressed with greater seriousness and urgency.
The ABPS notes with wariness the increasing militarisation of the seas to our South. Indian Ocean is fast turning into the future battle field. Our coastline is also not protected adequately enabling smuggling of weapons etc. into our country. Added concern for our country is the proposed Sethu Samudram Channel Project that would, if allowed to continue, increase the threat potential to our South-Eastern coastline by opening a passage from Bay of Bengal in to Palk Bay and to the defence establishments situated on the East coast as certain countries are disputing the status of the Historic Waters of Bharat and Sri Lanka. The ABPS insists that the Government, especially after the statement by our Defence Minister about the impending threats from the seas, should take immediate steps to properly secure our sea front also.
In the joint sessions of the Parliament, it was unanimously resolved once on November 14, 1962 and again on February 22, 1994 to get back every inch of land under the occupation of China and Pakistan respectively. The ABPS calls upon the Government, all political parties and the people of our great country to reiterate in unequivocal terms that each and every inch of our Motherland is absolutely sacred and it is our paramount duty to protect it against aggressionist and terrorist neighbours and thereby fulfill those solemn resolutions of the Parliament.
http://www.organiser.org/dynamic/modules.php?name=Content&pa=showpage&pid=230&page=3
March 30, 2008
Border security in danger
The Akhil Bharatiya Pratinidhi Sabha (ABPS) wishes to draw the attention of the entire nation towards the porous nature of our borders and the concomitant threat looming from all sides. Of particularly serious concern is the situation along the Himalayas, which were once believed to be an insurmountable natural boundary. With large tracts including Aksai-chin in Laddakh and Kailash Mansarover, already under its occupation after it became our neighbour following its annexation of Tibet in 1959, China started making fresh claims over many more areas like Arunachal Pradesh making the border question a much more serious one calling for urgent attention.
The ABPS reminds the country of the recent statement by the Union External Affairs Minister in the Lok Sabha that the Chinese are making claims over 100,000 sq. km. area followed by the admission of senior Army officials about the repeated incursions by the Chinese Army in the Tawang region of Arunachal Pradesh. The ABPS commends the Members of Parliament in Lok Sabha and the people from that region for vigorously campaigning against these border violations thus drawing the attention of the political establishment as well as the entire nation.
The ABPS cautions that any complacent attitude in dealing with China on the border question would be fraught with serious consequences. It is most unfortunate that despite knowing the aggressionist and expansionist nature of China our negotiators have allowed ambiguous clauses like ‘populated and unpopulated areas’ etc. to be made into negotiable issues thus allowing that country to exploit maximum diplomatic advantage. The ABPS expresses satisfaction that owing to popular pressure our Government categorically reiterated that the entire Arunachal Pradesh is an integral part of our country.
The ABPS calls upon the Government to follow up its declarations with concrete steps to secure our borders by immediately upgrading infrastructure facilities along our border with China. While the Chinese have built all-weather roads, wide railway network and high frequency communication systems all along their side of the border to serve strategic and military requirements we still lag behind on our side of the border in these matters.
The ABPS also demands that each and every post along China border be fully and strongly fortified so as to prevent any further incursions from the other side and to give a fitting reply in the event of border violations.
Porous nature of our land borders is a major cause of worry for the ABPS. Unchecked influx of illegal immigrants from Bangladesh is changing the demographic profile of a large number of districts along Bharat-Bangladesh border besides posing a serious threat to internal security all over the country. Bharat-Burma border along our North East too remains largely porous. Instances of foreigners trying to acquire land along our sensitive Western and Eastern borders have also come to light. The ABPS calls upon the Government to do all the needful ensuring that these borders are properly sealed by way of fencing, increasing number of border outposts, improving infrastructure along the borders and strengthening the presence of our forces there. There is need of creating special agency for border management as part of the Defence Ministry for effective implementation of these measures.
Instability in two important neighbours i.e. Pakistan and Nepal too is putting a lot of pressure on our border security. The ABPS welcomes the categorical assertion of our defence establishment against reducing troop presence in the troubled J&K State. With situation in Afghanistan too turning further volatile, our border along the LoC and the remaining western front needs strict vigil. Growing Maoist activity along Indo-Nepal border in hitherto untouched states like Uttarakhand must be addressed with greater seriousness and urgency.
The ABPS notes with wariness the increasing militarisation of the seas to our South. Indian Ocean is fast turning into the future battle field. Our coastline is also not protected adequately enabling smuggling of weapons etc. into our country. Added concern for our country is the proposed Sethu Samudram Channel Project that would, if allowed to continue, increase the threat potential to our South-Eastern coastline by opening a passage from Bay of Bengal in to Palk Bay and to the defence establishments situated on the East coast as certain countries are disputing the status of the Historic Waters of Bharat and Sri Lanka. The ABPS insists that the Government, especially after the statement by our Defence Minister about the impending threats from the seas, should take immediate steps to properly secure our sea front also.
In the joint sessions of the Parliament, it was unanimously resolved once on November 14, 1962 and again on February 22, 1994 to get back every inch of land under the occupation of China and Pakistan respectively. The ABPS calls upon the Government, all political parties and the people of our great country to reiterate in unequivocal terms that each and every inch of our Motherland is absolutely sacred and it is our paramount duty to protect it against aggressionist and terrorist neighbours and thereby fulfill those solemn resolutions of the Parliament.
http://www.organiser.org/dynamic/modules.php?name=Content&pa=showpage&pid=230&page=3
'Setu not profitable channel' -- navigators, marine managers
'Setu not profitable channel' -- navigators, marine managers
Expert committee claims ships will save time, not money "If these charges are taken into account the channel will not at all be a prof- itable proposi- tion. Besides it has its risks in navigating in shallow waters of 12 metres," said Capt Balakrishnan.
By KUMAR CHELLAPPAN
Chennai (Deccan Chronicle, 24 March 2008)
The Committee of Eminent Persons constituted by the government of India to go into various questions raised with respect to the Sethusamudram Shipping Channel Project (SSCP) has admitted, albeit indirectly, that it would not be profitable for international cargo liners to operate their ships in the channel.
The committee in its report, a copy of which is available with this newspaper, has claimed that a trip from Aden to Chennai through the SSCP would enable the ships to save 335 nautical miles. Though the ships would be able to save 19 hours if they use the SSCP, in real terms they will be saving only 17 hours, according to navigators and marine specialists. "They have to take into account the embarkation and disembarkation time for sailing through the SSCP. This needs at least two hours," said Captain Hariharan Balakrishnan, a veteran navigator.
Based on the findings of the committee, Capt Balakrishnan has worked out the expenses to be incurred by the ships for circumnavigating Sri Lanka and for sailing through SSCP. "A ship may save Rs 4,22,521 in its fuel bill if it uses the SSCP," said Captain Balakrishnan. But he pointed out that the SSCP authorities were silent on the tariff to be levied from the shippers and other operational expenses. "If these charges are taken into account the channel will not at all be a profitable proposition. Besides it has its risks in navigating in shallow waters of 12 metres," said Capt Balakrishnan.
The committee's observation that the number of vessels with 30,000 Dead Weight Tonnage (DWTtotal carrying capacity of a ship) were on the increase for the last 20 years has also drawn flak from navigators and shipping experts.
"This is complete nonsense. All ship owners prefer bulk carriers, oil tankers and big vessels of 75,000 DWT and above. With the increase in global trading, the shipping industry itself is facing a boom and big ships are the order of the day," said a senior shipping executive of the government of India.
The officer who did not want to be named said that the global trend is towards big ships with major carrying capacity.
Captain Neel. J. Nair, director, ABS Marine Services Pvt Ltd, marine managers with global network, said that only small ships operating in the Cochin-Chennai stretch may opt for the SSCP route. "It has to be economical like Suez or Panama Channels. We are saving 20,000 km by opting for the Panama Channel route. How can you compare SSCP with Panama and Suez," asked Capt Nair. He said unless and otherwise the SSCP management heavily subsidizes the route by slashing the user's tariff, no mariner worth his salt would opt for this route. Captain Balakrishnan added: "If the Sethusamudram Corporation subsidises vessel tariffs, then it will become a sick unit from the start, and the taxpayers’ money would have been wasted."
http://tinyurl.com/yqvb9y
Expert committee claims ships will save time, not money "If these charges are taken into account the channel will not at all be a prof- itable proposi- tion. Besides it has its risks in navigating in shallow waters of 12 metres," said Capt Balakrishnan.
By KUMAR CHELLAPPAN
Chennai (Deccan Chronicle, 24 March 2008)
The Committee of Eminent Persons constituted by the government of India to go into various questions raised with respect to the Sethusamudram Shipping Channel Project (SSCP) has admitted, albeit indirectly, that it would not be profitable for international cargo liners to operate their ships in the channel.
The committee in its report, a copy of which is available with this newspaper, has claimed that a trip from Aden to Chennai through the SSCP would enable the ships to save 335 nautical miles. Though the ships would be able to save 19 hours if they use the SSCP, in real terms they will be saving only 17 hours, according to navigators and marine specialists. "They have to take into account the embarkation and disembarkation time for sailing through the SSCP. This needs at least two hours," said Captain Hariharan Balakrishnan, a veteran navigator.
Based on the findings of the committee, Capt Balakrishnan has worked out the expenses to be incurred by the ships for circumnavigating Sri Lanka and for sailing through SSCP. "A ship may save Rs 4,22,521 in its fuel bill if it uses the SSCP," said Captain Balakrishnan. But he pointed out that the SSCP authorities were silent on the tariff to be levied from the shippers and other operational expenses. "If these charges are taken into account the channel will not at all be a profitable proposition. Besides it has its risks in navigating in shallow waters of 12 metres," said Capt Balakrishnan.
The committee's observation that the number of vessels with 30,000 Dead Weight Tonnage (DWTtotal carrying capacity of a ship) were on the increase for the last 20 years has also drawn flak from navigators and shipping experts.
"This is complete nonsense. All ship owners prefer bulk carriers, oil tankers and big vessels of 75,000 DWT and above. With the increase in global trading, the shipping industry itself is facing a boom and big ships are the order of the day," said a senior shipping executive of the government of India.
The officer who did not want to be named said that the global trend is towards big ships with major carrying capacity.
Captain Neel. J. Nair, director, ABS Marine Services Pvt Ltd, marine managers with global network, said that only small ships operating in the Cochin-Chennai stretch may opt for the SSCP route. "It has to be economical like Suez or Panama Channels. We are saving 20,000 km by opting for the Panama Channel route. How can you compare SSCP with Panama and Suez," asked Capt Nair. He said unless and otherwise the SSCP management heavily subsidizes the route by slashing the user's tariff, no mariner worth his salt would opt for this route. Captain Balakrishnan added: "If the Sethusamudram Corporation subsidises vessel tariffs, then it will become a sick unit from the start, and the taxpayers’ money would have been wasted."
http://tinyurl.com/yqvb9y
Saturday, March 22, 2008
Rama Setu: mine-warfare in the Palk straits -- scrap Setu project
This hand out photo shows the fiberglass shell found in the high seas where a Navy Dvrora Fast Attack Craft was destroyed yesterday.
Here's a detailed Sri Lankan military's account of the mine-warfare ongoing in Mullaitivu. The island is very close to the Rama Setu and Indian coastline, situated as it is at a distance of only 40 kms. from Point Calimere (Kodiakkarai). The report refers to LTTE Sea Tigers operating from Nagarkovil (India) down through Chempiyanpattu, Chalai, Mullaitivu up to Kokkuttoduvai.
Govt. of India should take immediate notice of the ongoing mine-warfare too close to the nation's coastline and suspend the Setu channel project IMMEDIATELY, without waiting for the Hon'ble SC to continue their deliberations.
Mine warfare is such a serious issue that it took 6 months of mine-sweeping by US, Australian, German, British and Netherlands Navies to clear the stretch of 20 kms. in Persian Gulf and declare the Gulf safe for navigation (in the wake of the Desert Storm operations in Kuwait). One shudders to imagine the nightmare of such mine-sweeping or mine-hunting operations in the proposed mid-ocean channel passage in Gulf of Mannar and Palk Straits which is over 160 kms. long.
Time for action is NOW in due consultation with security experts and all wings of the Indian army.
National security is too serious and vital a matter to be held hostage to the dictates of petty and parochial, regional politics, coalition dharma notwithstanding. Citizens of the world should understand the devastating nature of mine-warfare on narrow straits and on high seas and demand that issues of national security cannot be decided without consultations with experts who have spent their lifetimes gaining the professional expertise needed in successfully mounting mine-warfare operations and counter-measures.
Kalyanaraman 23 March 2008
Heavy casualties on both sides (The Nation, Colombo, 23 March 2008)
Pre-dawn clashes with LTTE : Army goes northwest and Navy northeast
Claims and counter claims have been made by the LTTE and the Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) over a pre-dawn incident that sank a naval Fast Attack Craft (FAC) yesterday in the northeastern coastal waters off Nayaru.
The Navy has declared 10 of its men as “missing in action” (MIA), while six, including the Officer-In-Charge, Lt. Commander Goonewardene, were rescued after a search operation that lasted till 6:30 am.
The pro-LTTE Tamilnet website, however, reported that its ‘elite Black Sea Tigers in an engagement with a SLN flotilla, in the seas off Mullaithtivu, attacked and sank a SLN Dvora FAC, between Mullaiththivu and Naayaa’ru at 2:10 a.m.’
The LTTE claims it killed 14 sailors in the clashes, while conceding it lost three of its Black Sea Tigers- ‘Lt. Col.’ Anpumaran, ‘Major’ Niranjani and ‘Major’ Kaninila- “killed in action” (KIA).
The SLN, which blamed the incident on a sea mine explosion, (See box story for types of sea mines) has denied clashes with the Tigers. It says that the aluminum hull of the craft was damaged when its latter part got caught in the explosion.
The SLN questions the absurdity of the Tigers failure to kill the six crew members rescued several hours later. Some crew members got into the drifting life craft that is easily targeted, while the rest jumped overboard. Citing the rescued, the SLN states that the Tigers were nowhere near the scene.
Naval sources, who say the explosion could have occurred by a drifting mine, a moored mine or, one at the bottom of the sea, however, have ruled out the use of diver-delivery vehicles, on board some of the ships destroyed by the SLN, not too long ago.
Mining the seas
In April 2007, SLN surveillance patrol craft operating in the eastern seas, detected some 24 sea mines placed by the Tigers. Naval divers called into action, claimed removal of all the sea mines in the Nayaru area, making it safe for the SLN and for fishing.
Nevertheless, the SLN feels more have been planted since.
A month before ‘Eelam War IV’ commenced on June 17, 2006, mysterious mid sea explosions were heard in the Pamunugama area, which the police claimed were magnetic mines laid by LTTE underwater divers. Later, there was talk of the LTTE having acquired or turned out submarines.
The LTTE is known to spring surprises on the military. Four years ago, it took the ‘Karuna’ faction by surprise, by moving its cadres and heavy weapons across the Verugall river, to stage an attack on Good Friday, a day one would least expect such a move.
Yesterday’s incident, again took place hours after Good Friday, which also happened to be Medin Poya. Generally, the Tigers are wary of giving any advantage to their opponents, and the moonlight would have removed the element of surprise, giving the SLN a distinct advantage.
Encounters of a watery kind
It is learnt that two SLN FACs were in the seas off Nayaru, some 15 km from Mullaitivu. The LTTE states that the ill-fated FAC was between Nayaru and Mullaitivu. If this is correct, the LTTE is trying to make out that the Sea Tigers reacted to the presence of naval craft in an area it still controls.
The LTTE states that the fighting lasted 45 minutes, from 2:00 am., while the SLN says that the blast occurred around 2.30 am. State defence officials are of the view that the LTTE would not attack on a Poya Day when there is so much light. Further, they opine that suicide boats, originally manned by one member, now, have two members, one to fire weapons. But, experts say that a third could be used to obtain radar information. The LTTE has its observation points and radar points here. Meanwhile, the Defence Ministry reported SLAF fighter jets launched precision air strikes on a Sea Tiger base yesterday (22), 7km North of Nayaru lagoon in Mullaittiuvu at 11.15 a.m. The air strikes, according to the military, came amidst intense Tiger activity monitored in the area.
The other FAC accompanying the ill-fated craft, had informed Eastern Naval Command, which, in turn, obtained assistance from Northern Naval Command, that dispatched several craft to the location. The two FACs, locally manufactured by Colombo Dockyard, were fitted with Israeli weapons systems.
The SLN, with its sheer superior firepower and speed, had a distinct advantage over the Sea Tigers, which, however, has unmatchable weapons- explosives guided by the ‘misguided’ suicide bomber.
‘Fishy’ Tigers
That is why the coastal belt, from Thondaimanar to Madagal, is off bounds for fishermen, as the Tigers sometimes pose off as fishermen and strike. Six months ago, there was a major attack off Thondaimannar. Prior to that, there was an attack in the Kachchativu island. As ‘Eelam War IV’ commenced, the Sea Tigers used combined sea-land attacks to displace the military at Kilali.
But, the Sea Tigers did appear somewhat subdued, after possible clashes within the LTTE hierarchy. The suspected rift between LTTE’s Sea Tiger Wing leader, ‘Col.’ Soosai and intelligence wing leader Pottu Amman, did not do the Tiger naval wing any good. There were less confrontations in the latter part of last year and early this year, despite the LTTE’s original claim that ‘Eelam War IV’ would be decided on the seas.
The SLN successfully defeated the Sea Tigers, every time they took on the SLN or, bring in arms and ammunition. The pictures of smoldering Tiger vessels are still fresh in the mind. In all, the LTTE lost some 10 ships in the past five years.
Army plays it safe
But, the military would not take chances with the Tigers, who are known to bounce back. The Palali military base, Kankesanthurai harbour, Karanaigar Naval base and Trincomalee harbour and their environs, have all been declared out of bounds for fishermen as the LTTE would often disguise itself to secure an advantage.
During ‘Eelam War IV’, the SLN did well to in effectively implement a naval blockade along the eastern coast, as well as the northern coast, preventing the Tigers from bringing supplies from outside.
The two possible supply routes are Mullaitivu on the northeastern coast and Vidatalativu on the northwestern coast.
The LTTE, which has witnessed “close air support” given to ground troops by the Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF), is possibly anticipating a sea-land operation by the SLN and troops in the northwestern coast. Army columns and “deep penetration units” have been moving through the Mannar jungles to wrest control of locations that would enable them to eventually capture Vidatilativu.
Sea-land operations
The Army is keen on sea-land operations to maximise its efforts towards securing the northwestern coast, with Pooneryn as one important target. Securing and maintaining the Mannar-Pooneryn Road would essentially require the services of the SLN. A secure northwestern coast would enable the Army to face the enemy on one flank- eastern side of the road. This strategy is thought of as against securing the rest of the A9-Road, which has to be defended on two flanks on the ground.
But, the thinking of the SLN may have been that the Sea Tigers were already anticipating a naval assault or a sea-land operation on the northeastern coast. Hence, the possible patrol on the northeastern waters off Nayaru, close to Mullaitivu, to catch the LTTE off guard.
Cutting off the northeastern Mullaitivu line of supply, may be an option the SLN may be toying with. The SLN controls the eastern seas from Pullmodai down through the Trincomalee, Batticaloa and Amparai coasts.
The LTTE controls the coastal strip from Nagarkovil down through Chempiyanpattu, Chalai, Mullaitivu up to Kokkuttoduvai.
The Tigers supply route has been from Mullaitivu through Kokkuttoduvai into the Manal Aru region, also called Weli Oya, where the Army’s recently created 59 Strike Division is trying to make headway.
Army chief takes stock in Jaffna
The army has been fighting the LTTE on several fronts in Wanni, Weli Oya and Jaffna.
Last week, too, the army drew the LTTE into confrontation and attacked LTTE’s first line destroying bunkers. The Mechanised infantry, with its extra fire power, and the mobile infantry with its fire power, hit the Tigers hard. The aim is not to secure land at this stage, but to get them to confront. But, there was an unusually late monsoonal rain that was not there last year or the year before. The rains have saved the day for the LTTE.
Army Commander Lt. Gen. Sarath Fonseka visited Jaffna yesterday (22) and met senior ground commanders as clashes between Security Forces and Tigers took place in Muhamale and Nagarkovil areas. Maj. Gen. G.A. Chandrasiri, Jaffna Security Forces Commander, who received the visiting Army Chief, at the Palaly airport briefed him on the security arrangements. Commanders of Divisions, Brigades and Units discussed the security situation in their respective areas.
The Army claims it secured 11,000 recruits in January and February, and was bent on taking on the LTTE on several fronts, to exhaust the Tigers who are already overstretched. The LTTE’s Toppigala hideout secured in July last year, has provided an ideal terrain for training soldiers. When the Army was heading for Toppigala, one important strategy it adopted was to close the supply routes to Toppigala, which it did at Karadiyanaru. Closing the supply route would isolate the enemy. This is exactly what it is doing in the areas of Parappakandal in Mannar.
Fighting erupts in SE Adampan
Meanwhile, the Military announced heavy fighting between the Army and Tigers in the area southeast of Adampan, Mannar in a pre-dawn attack yesterday (22). The Media Centre for National Security (MCNS) claimed troops overran eight Tiger bunkers, killing over 22 Tigers and injuring more than two dozens in the lower Adampan area, considered the gateway to Vidutalatuivu. Troops are yet to reach Adampan town. There was no independent confirmation of the casualty figures, but the pro-LTTE Tamilnet website failed to report the incident.
The MCNS, citing latest reports from the battlefront, said that troops gained considerable territory during the multi-pronged assault launched around 4:45 am. yesterday.
“The advancing Army battle formations were assisted by heavy artillery and mortar fire directed at LTTE resisting positions,” states the MCNS report citing unnamed defence sources. Meanwhile, the MCNS adds that troops captured a square kilometer, following intense clashes with Tigers in the general area between Parayakulama and Ilanthaivan, in Mannar yesterday.
The military reported four soldiers died and 16 wounded during the confrontations. Troops recovered five Tiger bodies, while search operations are on, even as troops were consolidating their defences.
Army Chief Lt. Gen. Sarath Fonseka, who himself has fought in these places, as a commanding officer (CO), and is drawing up all plans in the current phase of the war, is directing the COs from Colombo as he knows the areas, like the back of his hand.
Nature takes a hand
But, nature has intervened to slow down the advancing troops, given the long bouts of incessant rain, retarding progress.
The floods have also affected the people and ‘added insult to injury’ to the internally displaced people from the Musali Division of Arippu, Silavathurai and Mulikilam. The Mannar rice bowl and home gardens have also been adversely affected by the raging waters.
Meanwhile, strategically, the Army has closed the Mannar-Medawachchiya, A-14 Road at the Mathavchaiy entry-exit point, for vehicles coming in and going out of the north to the south. The reason being to stem the flow of explosives to the South, on the understanding that all explosives are coming from the north.
This means all goods- perishable and non perishable- coming from the north, have to be re-loaded into other lorries, increasing labour and transport costs, sending the prices of goods, both in the north and south, soaring.
New DIG CID, new STF Commandant
SSP Sisira Mendis, who served the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), for 30 long years including four years as the director of the department, was appointed DIG CID and is expected to overlook the Terrorist Investigations Department as well. He takes over from DIG CID D.W. Prathapasinghe, who has been transferred to Sabaragamuwa.
After his transfer to the north as SSP Vavuniya for one year in 2007, the then SSP Mendis returned to the CID recently as its director, before being appointed DIG, overseeing the important unit of criminal investigations.
Mendis is held in high esteem both within and outside the police force as an honourable and disciplined officer.
Meanwhile, another honourable and capable officer in the police Nimal Lewke who has served the Special Task Force as its Commandant has been replaced by DIG K.L.M. Sarathchandra. DIG Lewke will, however, continue to serve as DIG Operations, Western Province.
Previous attempts, by interested parties, to move Lewke out of the STF in August 2007 by appointing Senior DIG Mahinda Balasuriya as STF Commandant did not succeed.
The latest rationale behind removing the war veteran from heading the STF was that he served in that position for four years. There have been precedents where the position of Commandant was held for over four years and the best example is DIG Karunasena.
Among the new changes, approved by the National Police Commission, are: DIG Eastern Range, H.M.D. Herath; DIG Moneragala Operations Range, A. Goonetilleke; DIG North Western Range, P. Nanayakkara; DIG Ampara, R.P.S.K. Rajapaksa, DIG Central Range, Abeysiri Gunawardene; DIG Crimes, U. Hewage, DIG Training and Exams, A. Jayasinghe; DIG Recruitments, S. Michael; DIG Ombudsman, W.P. Dayaratne.
****
Sea Mining Operations
The advantages of employing the sea mine include engaging an adversary at minimal risk to ADF forces; providing the possibility of delivering a pre-emptive defensive attack; engaging an adversary with a covert weapon that maintains a continuous threat; forcing an adversary to operate both military and commercial shipping in areas that make them more vulnerable to other weapons; forcing an adversary to maintain an MCM capability; and presenting an adversary with a significant psychological threat. The disadvantages of employing sea mines include the dangers to mine warfare vessels and friendly shipping, as well as the requirement, under international law, to clear away all mines after the conflict is over.
Classification of Sea Mines Mine Types
The sea mine threat may be described under two main categories. Moored mines are positively buoyant, attached to the seabed, floating at a pre-determined depth below the sea surface, and are laid in water depths of up to 300 metres. Ground mines are negatively buoyant, resting on the seabed, and are laid in water depths of up to 200 metres against surface shipping or 300 metres against submarines.
The two main sea mine categories can be subdivided into sub-types dependent upon their method of operation and actuation, as shown in the diagram above.
http://www.nation.lk/2008/03/23/militarym.htm
Nayaru fireball: Sea mine or human torpedo? (Sunday Times online, Colombo, March 23, 2008)
Dawn attack gives new dimension to Eelam War IV
Heavy rain impedes progress of troops on two fronts
A draft National Defence Policy but outcome of war overshadows it
By Iqbal Athas
If there was a lull in the battlefields of Wanni due to heavy rains, the fighting shifted to the high seas. Before dawn yesterday, six Navy Dvora Fast Attack Craft (FAC) were on patrol in the north-eastern seas in formations of two each. Two of the FACs were in the deep seas off Nayaru, which lies near the Tiger guerrilla stronghold of Mullaitivu. An explosion engulfed one of the locally-built Dvora (437) in a ball of fire. It sank immediately. The remaining Dvora rescued six sailors including its Officer-in-Charge but the fate of ten more on board the destroyed vessel is not known.
Navy officials suspect the Dvora was destroyed by a sea mine. This, they say, is not conclusive and add that it could even be a human torpedo. One form of human torpedo is a suicide bomber strapping explosives to ram a vessel. Another form is a diver directing a floating or submerged device with explosives at a vessel.
Last year, in the same general area, the Navy discovered sea mines. However, a senior official at Navy Headquarters in Colombo said, "we are yet to determine conclusively the exact cause for the explosion. Neither the crew of the second Dvora nor survivors from the one that was destroyed are able to say how it occurred. There was no exchange of fire. Nor do we have any electronic evidence."
A further elaboration of this aspect, which would have helped one better appreciate the realities, is not possible due to serious personal constraints. Search operations in the high seas yesterday led to the discovery of a fiberglass shell, small pieces of plastic and burnt out polythene. The fiberglass shell has led to suspicion whether quantities of explosives were hidden in it. Navy officials hope these items would give them a clue in determining the exact cause for the explosion and sinking of Dvora 437, an FAC built by the Colombo Dockyard.
However, the Tamilnet website said the Dvora was destroyed after Black Sea Tigers attacked. This is what the report said: Liberation Tigers of Tamileelam (LTTE) elite Black Sea Tigers, engaged in a confrontation with a fleet of Sri Lanka Navy in the seas off Mullaiththeevu, attacked and sunk a SLN Dvora Fast Attack Craft (FAC) between Mullaiththeevu and Naayaa'ru at 2:10 a.m. Saturday, LTTE sources in Vanni told TamilNet. At least 14 Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) sailors were killed in the clashes, the Tigers said.
Three Black Sea Tigers were killed in action in the fighting that lasted for 45 minutes from 2:00 a.m. Saturday. Meanwhile, SLN sources said 10 SLN sailors were missing. Sixteen sailors were on board the SLN said. “Vessel number of the sunk SLN Dvora FAC was 438, the LTTE said. “Lt. Col. Anpumaran, Major Niranjani and Major Kaninila were the Black Sea Tigers killed in action.
“The SLN claimed that the FAC had hit a sea mine and was completely destroyed before it sank. Denying confrontations in the sea, the SLN said it had launched a search operation to locate the missing sailors.”
This hand out photo shows the fiberglass shell found in the high seas where a Navy Dvrora Fast Attack Craft was destroyed yesterday.
If the Navy's suspicions that sea mines were the cause of the loss of the Dvora and uncertainty over ten of its crew members, it adds a new dimension to the ongoing Eelam War IV. The extensive use of such mines can impede naval movement in the high seas. That is not only confined to patrolling the seas. More importantly, the Navy provides the bulk of the security cover for movement of food and military supplies to some 40,000 troops and policemen deployed in the Government controlled Jaffna peninsula. They are transported from Trincomalee to Kankesanthurai. In addition, the vast majority of troops and police personnel are also escorted at sea by the Navy. However, such phenomenon is unlikely since sea mines have not been used in any other location in the recent past.
On the other hand, senior Navy officials say that the placing of mines in the seas off Mullaitivu had been resorted to by guerrillas for another reason altogether. They say it is to stall any sea-borne assault on the shores of Mullaitivu or a beach landing in that area, which is considered the centre of power of the guerrillas. It is known that key installations of the guerrilla sea-going arm, the Sea Tigers are located along that coastal stretch.
Heavy rains have further slowed the advance of troops in the main theatres of fighting in the Wanni. In the Mannar sector, where troops are advancing in two different flanks, one west and the other east of the Giant's Tank, there were only sporadic exchanges of artillery and mortar fire by the two sides. On Friday two soldiers were killed when guerrillas, who had infiltrated Mannar, triggered off a Claymore mine. The incident took place in the South Bar area.
Troops attached to the Area Headquarters in Mannar had utilised three buses to bring members of the Buddhist clergy for religious ceremonies from a temple near South Bar because of Medin Poya. The Claymore mine missed the first but hit the second bus. A Captain and a soldier were killed on the spot. Six other soldiers were injured and four are in a critical condition.
In the Weli Oya sector where troops have seized considerable extent of "no man's" land as a flank moved northwards, in the direction of Mullaitivu, heavy rains have converted the terrain into a marsh. Here again, sporadic exchanges of artillery and mortar fire continued. An Army official in the sector, who spoke on grounds of anonymity for obvious reasons, said in some areas the floodwaters were knee high. An unexpected development had been a sizeable number of troops falling sick with complaints of either dengue or Chickungunya. They have been hospitalised for treatment, he added.
These developments came as the Ministry of Defence was engaged in major re-deployment of troops in the North and the East. As part of this measure, personnel of the Police Special Task Force (STF) are being re-located from camps in the Ampara district to the Vavuniya district. Similar shift of troops from Trincomalee district are also to follow shortly. Details of how the re-deployment will take shape cannot be revealed. Officially, the proposed changes are being dubbed as routine and necessitated by changing ground situation.
In this backdrop, as the Eelam War IV continues, a formidable group of senior officers of the Army, Navy and Air Force, who are now retired, are at the forefront of a campaign to formulate a Defence Policy for Sri Lanka. They are made up of Retired Flag Rank Officers and others retired from the Armed Services. They have joined hands with the Organisation of Professional Associations in this endeavour.
Last Monday, the Mess Hall of the Sri Lanka Army's Mechanical and Electrical Engineers (SLEME) in Colombo was the venue for a gathering of serving senior officers in the Army, Navy and Air Force. Some senior retired Majors General in the Army and one time top officials of the Air Force and Navy gave them presentations on different aspects. They were all enunciating the need for a Defence Policy. The fact that the Armed Forces officers had been seconded by their higher command to take part in the event came as official endorsement of the event though not the draft policy itself.
Circulated among those present were a set of documents including the 41-page draft of 'A Recommended Defence Policy on Sri Lanka' (in September 2007) fomulated by the Association of Retired Flag Rank Officers (with the help of other retired officers) for the Organisation of Professional Assiciations (OPA).
The draft report notes that Defence Policy is required to "determine the means by which, without impoverishing the nation, Security Forces could be deployed to fulfil the requirements of National Security." It says: "The Armed Forces are an extension of the 'political will' of the government. Today military thinking tends to be politico military and Foreign Affairs should be militarily diplomatic. Policies have to be tailor-made….."
The draft Defence Policy says "the security challenges in the future will become more diverse and multi-faceted and effect more countries and transnational in nature…." It cautions …"we must be aware of and be sensitive to the concerns of our neighbours, especially India, in our alignment with others…. It says
"India is unlikely to indulge in a military adventure across the Palk Straits, unless Sri Lanka pursues a military solution sans a parallel 'hearts and minds' campaign with the Tamil population in the North and East.
"An influx of refugees in large numbers to Tamil Nadu will encourage their sympathisers in that state to provide covert material and moral support to the LTTE. Such tensions may lead to India Navy/Coast-guard being deployed to deal with infiltration and intrusions, which could result in incidents of a military nature and strained relations," the draft points out.
Here are some significant edited excerpts from the draft Defence Policy for Sri Lanka:
DEFENCE POLICIES OF THE PAST:
"Apart from the Defence Policy stated by the D.S. Senanayake Government in 1947, which was made non effective in 1956, (except the continuation of anti-illicit immigration operations until 1980) there has been no discernible "Defence Policy" enunciated by any government thereafter. "Ad Hocism" has been resorted to and some of the decisions, such as prevention of the build up of the Navy (personnel and equipment) for nine years proved disastrous in 1983 when RAW supported the influx of trained rebel cadres and ammunition to the Jaffna peninsula without a deterrent naval presence.
"There were 'ad hoc' decisions on various occasions such as the provision of arms and ammunition to the LTTE and the premature removal of the Indian Peace Keeping Force (IPKF), which have been to the detriment of Sri Lanka's security. If there is a national policy on defence accepted by Parliament, such unilateral decisions detrimental of the security of the nation would not take place.
"Even to date there is no discernible Defence Policy. The Defence of the Nation is left to the whims and fancies of those running the Defence establishments of the country whereas it should be of the highest priority for a government and the people who are sovereign must be made aware of the policy adopted for their security.
HIGHER DEFENCE CONTROL
"Many countries have adopted a policy of Comprehensive Security i.e. encompassing a variety of subjects which can affect the Security of the Nation (National Security). A few of these can include food security; health security; environmental security; the brain-drain; labour unrest, corruption and many others which can have an adverse effect on the country's stability.
"Apart from the dangers to National Security caused by military attacks from within the state or from outside, these threats must be assessed by the highest authority constituting the National Security Council (NSC) as and when such threats are envisaged, and remedial measures should be adopted. Intelligence on these matters must be collated and presented to the NSC. The NSC must not be confined to military security alone but to all possible threats to the nation's stability and good governance.
"The NSC should comprise the highest authorities in the land. They are:
Head of Government (President or Prime Minister)
Leader of the Opposition
Ministers of Defence; Finance; Foreign Affairs as statutory members
Any Minister under whose purview that particular threat is perceived.
"The decision makers have to be advised by a panel of officials of whom the following should be permanent advisors;
Secretaries to the Ministry of Defence, Finance and Foreign Affairs
Secretaries of the affected Ministries (can be co-opted to deal with the particular problem such as Health, Food, Labour etc.)
Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff
Chief of National Intelligence
"The NSC must be serviced by a Secretariat at the Head of States/government office and that organisation should include intellectuals (persons of eminence from outside the government with expertise on external and internal security, foreign affairs, defence and military affairs, science, technology
and economics) who could advise the NSC on the implications of the perceived threats and the remedial action to be taken.
"The National Security Council (NSC) system is the principal form for deliberation of National Security Policy issues requiring the Head of Government's rulings. The NSC system provides the framework for establishing national strategy and policy objectives. The NSC develops policy options, considers implications, co-ordinates operational matters that require inter-departmental consideration, develops recommendations for the Head of Government and monitors policy implementation.
"When a military situation is envisaged the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff discharges a substantial part of his statutory responsibilities as the principal military advisor to the government, the Service Chiefs should also be present in such a situation to tender specialist advice. The NSC prepares National Security guidance that should develop into policy. These policy decisions provide the basis for military planning and programming particularly in respect of capital equipment such as aircraft, ships and heavy weapons etc.
THE DEFENCE FORCES
"There has to be divisions of the Ministry (of Defence), one with a Civilian head (Secretary) and the other with a Military head (Chief of Armed Forces). The proper designation should be Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff and not Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) as a CDS should be a person who has worked in all three services and be familiar with tri-service operations etc. One should not be subordinate to the other and each has specific responsibilities and the existence of the Defence Council will help to sort out any differences, which should not, but might occur.
Chiefs of Staff Committee: The designation of the three Service Chiefs should be changed - The forces are now too large for a Commander to exercise direct command. He has to delegate to subordinate commanders and in this context the designation of the Service Chiefs (as practiced by most countries) should be:
a. Chief of Army Staff
b. Chief of Naval Staff
c. Chief of Air Staff"
It seems highly unlikely that the Government would be in a mood to formulate a Defence Policy, or for that matter, even effect defence reforms when it is now at war. Hence, the main priority will remain the conclusion of Eelam War IV. Whether a Defence Policy or reforms would then become as necessary as it is now will thus remain a key question.
http://www.sundaytimes.lk/080323/Columns/sitreport.html
March 23, 2008
Sri Lanka Bombs Rebels After Navy Boat Is Sunk
By REUTERS
COLOMBO, Sri Lanka (Reuters) — Sri Lankan Air Force jets bombed Tamil Tiger strongholds on Saturday after a navy patrol boat was sunk by a mine rebels were suspected of planting off the northeast coast, with 10 of the 16 crew members missing and feared dead.
Pro-Tamil sources said the fast attack craft was destroyed by a suicide squad of so-called Black Tiger fighters, with three rebels killed.
But the military said the boat struck a mine around 2 a.m. on a patrol by two navy craft near Nayaru, about 185 miles north of the capital here.
The pro-Tamil Web site, tamilnet.com, said rebel suicide fighters had destroyed the boat during a firefight that lasted up to 45 minutes, and said 14 sailors had been killed.
Both sides regularly make conflicting claims. Their reports are impossible to verify because Nordic monitors who had been keeping watch over a shaky cease-fire left the island in January.
They left after President Mahinda Rajapaksa formally scrapped a six-year truce in the country’s 25-year civil war, accusing the rebels of using the peace to rearm. The navy ship was the second sunk by rebels since then.
The military has been intensifying its campaign against the Tigers, who are fighting for an independent homeland, pressing forward in their northern strongholds and aiming to defeat them by year’s end.
But in a separate episode, two soldiers were killed and six others injured late Friday when their bus hit a Tiger landmine in the northwestern district of Mannar.
The military immediately struck back, launching multiple bombing raids on Sea Tiger radar and command positions near Nayaru and Puthukudyiruppu, which may have played a role in the rebel attack.
The military said they had also overrun Tiger positions near Parayanakulam, also in Mannar, killing 15 rebels in a strategically vital area. It said two soldiers had been killed. That brought the reported death toll last week to 158 rebels and 7 soldiers. About 70,000 people have died since the war began in 1983.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/23/world/asia/23lanka.html?_r=1&ref=asia&oref=slogin
SSCP and national security; scrap Setu project which destroys world heritage and endangers security
Sri Lankan Navy boats patrol the waters off the eastern port of Trincomalee
Sri Lankan navy boats patrolling the waters off the eastern port of Trincomalee in September 2007.
The fast attack boats are armed with heavy and light machine guns
Location of Mullaitivu in relation to the Indian coastline and proximity to proposed Setu channel passage
SSCP and security in the context of ongoing mine-warfare close to Indian coastline, close to the proposed channel passage and close to Rama Setu
The note contains a number of press reports many of which were just released about 4 hours ago on the most serious marine warfare incident in Mullaitivu, 40 kms. from Indian coastline (Point Calimere or Kodiakkarai). Mullaitivu island is located between Jaffna and Trincomalee.
Press Release of Rameshwaram Rama Setu Raksha Manch (22 March 2008)
Rameshwaram Rama Setu Raksha Manch
A serious naval sea-mine warfare incident has occurred very close to the coastline of India in Mullaitivu (located between Jaffna and Trincomalee), just 40 kms. from Point Calimere (Kodiakkarai) of Indian coastline. A naval craft of Sri Lanka has been blasted by a Sea Mine planted by LTTE Sea Tigers. This has confirmed the worst fears of security analysts and the issues of national security brought to the notice of the Hon'ble Supreme Court on the Rama Setu protection case and to the Govt. of India.
We call uponn the Government of India to take serious note of this incident and immediately suspend the Setusamudram project and order a detailed security evaluation. It should be noted that when after operation Desert Storm, it was found that sea-mines in a short stretch of only 20 kms. in the Persian Gulf had to be cleared, it took the combined efforts of US, Australian, German, British, Netherlands navies about 6 months to complete the mine sweeping and mine hunting operations and declare the Gulf safe for navigation.
One can only imagine the consequences of such mine-warfare in the Setusamudram narrow mid-ocean channel of over 160 kms. and the enormous burden it will impose on the Indian security, military and naval forces to keep the channel passage open and operational.
This incident also confirms the concerns expressed recently by Admiral Mehta and Director General of Coast Guard Russy F. Contractor on the security implications created by the proposed mid-ocean channel project in Setusamudram..
Such mine warfare incidents proving the asymmetric mine warfare capabilities of LTTE will result in steep and immediate escalation of freight insurance costs, necessitating a review of all navigation projects in the region.
Mine warfare has come nearer home to India and it will be treason not to take note of such incidents and indulge in projects, standing on prestige. The Setu project should be scrapped with immediate effect since it poses a clear and credible threat to nation’s security. (End of Matter)
Sri Lankan Navy boats patrol the waters off the eastern port of Trincomalee
The fast attack boats are armed with heavy and light machine guns
Tigers sink Sri Lanka craft, heavy land battles erupt
03-22-2008, 11h44
COLOMBO (AFP)
Tamil Tiger rebels struck back against a mounting Sri Lankan military offensive on Saturday by sinking a naval fast attack craft, leaving 10 sailors missing, officials said.
A navy craft was destroyed in a "mystery blast" caused by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), the defence ministry said, adding that the guerrillas appeared to have developed new underwater capabilities.
"The navy suspects the blast was caused by a possible sea mine or due to some underwater weapon" developed by the rebels, the ministry said, adding that there was no sea battle or any guerrilla craft in sight during the sinking.
The military retaliated with combined land-air attacks against suspected Tiger positions, capturing some land in Mannar district, while ground troops killed 15 rebels, the defence ministry said, adding that two soldiers also died.
There was no immediate word from the rebels about the land offensive.
But the LTTE said they sank the navy craft by using three suicide bombers in the pre-dawn attack in high seas off rebel-held Mullaitivu district.
Six sailors from the locally made Dvora-class fast attack craft were rescued by another boat patrolling off Mullaitivu where the Tigers have their main military bases, navy spokesman D.K.P. Dassanayake said.
Ten more were missing after the blast.
"The officer in charge and five others from the FAC (fast attack craft) were rescued," Dassanayake said. "One of them said the craft started taking on water after a huge explosion. They got into a liferaft."
The pro-rebel Tamilnet.com website reported the navy craft was sunk in a suicide attack launched by three "Black Sea Tigers," or suicide bombers.
The Tamil Tigers are known for their trademark suicide bombings and have been outlawed as a "terrorist" outfit by the United States since October 1997.
The sinking of the navy boat came hours after a military bus was hit by a landmine in the district of Mannar on Friday night, leaving at least two soldiers dead and six wounded, the military said.
The government claims it has killed 2,257 rebels since January against the loss of 133 of its own troops. The government allows no journalists or rights groups into the embattled regions, making it impossible to verify the figures.
However, troops have made little progress in taking rebel territory in the island's north, military sources said.
Thousands of people have been killed in a new wave of fighting since December 2005, when a Norwegian-brokered truce began to unravel. The truce was formally ended by the government in January.
The military has pushed out the LTTE from its last bastion in the east of the tropical island, a victory that has largely confined the rebels to their northern mini-state.
The rebels have been battling for an independent homeland since 1972 in an ethnic conflict that has claimed tens of thousands of lives.
http://www.turkishpress.com/news.asp?id=221650
Ten missing after S Lanka sinking
Ten crew from a Sri Lankan patrol boat are missing after their vessel exploded and sank off the island's north-east coast early on Saturday.
The Sri Lankan navy said the boat, carrying 16 crew in all, was thought to have struck a sea mine planted by Tamil Tiger guerrillas.
But the rebels said the vessel had been attacked and destroyed by one of their suicide squads.
This is the second naval vessel sunk since a ceasefire ended in January.
Rescued
The BBC's Roland Buerk in Colombo says two navy fast attack craft, about 25 metres (82ft) long and armed with heavy and light machine guns, were on a routine patrol when one was caught up in an explosion and sank.
The incident took place near Nayaru, 300km (185 miles) north of Colombo.
Five crewmen and an officer were rescued.
A spokesman for the Sri Lankan navy, Lt Commander Rohan Joseph, denied reports on a pro-rebel news website that the patrol had been attacked by the Black Sea Tigers suicide squad.
Five seamen were lost in the earlier incident in February.
In January the government pulled out of a formal commitment to a 2002 ceasefire with the Tamil Tigers, arguing the rebels had used it to re-group and re-arm.
Since then, fighting has intensified on the frontlines that surround Tiger-held territory in the north.
The Tigers have been fighting for an independent state in the north and east since 1983. More than 70,000 people have been killed since then.
They say that ethnic minority Tamils have been marginalised for decades by governments dominated by the Sinhalese majority.
Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/south_asia/7309200.stm
Sri Lankan rebels attack sailors at sea
By KRISHAN FRANCIS Associated Press Writer
Article Launched: 03/22/2008 03:13:21 AM PDT
COLOMBO, Sri Lanka—A Sri Lankan navy boat sank after apparently hitting a floating mine off the island's northern coast in an incident that left 10 sailors missing early Saturday, an official said.
A Web site linked to the Tamil Tiger rebels said, however, that the navy boat was hit by a rebel suicide attack.
The incident occurred as intensified fighting raged between Sri Lankan troops and ethnic Tamil rebels elsewhere on the island.
Navy spokesman D.K.P. Dassanayake said he believed that rebels planted the mine at sea off northern Mullaitivu district.
Six sailors were rescued but 10 others who were on the boat were missing, Dassanayake said.
The pro-rebel Web site TamilNet said, however, that the insurgents launched a suicide attack on the boat and that three of its fighters were killed.
The Tamil Tigers, who have been fighting for an independent state for the country's minority ethnic Tamils since 1983, run a strong naval force. The rebels' suicide attackers often ram boats packed with explosives into government naval ships.
Meanwhile, the military said ground troops captured a crucial area in northern Mannar district Saturday.
Military spokesman Brig. Udaya Nanayakkara said holding the territory, though it is only about half a square mile in size, was important to reducing the rebels' ability to fire artillery and resupply their front lines.
On Friday night two soldiers were killed and six others were wounded when a mine planted by the rebels hit their bus in Mannar town, Nanayakkara said.
Rebel spokesman Rasiah Ilanthirayan could not be contacted for comment.
Both sides often exaggerate their enemies' casualties and underreport their own.
More than 70,000 people have been killed in Sri Lanka's violence, which originated from ethnic Tamils being marginalized for decades by a series of governments run by majority ethnic Sinhalese.
————
On the Net:
Pro-rebel Web site, TamilNet: http://www.tamilnet.com
http://www.mercurynews.com/breakingnews/ci_8661012
Sri Lankan navy boats patrolling the waters off the eastern port of Trincomalee in September 2007.
Mystery over missing Sri Lankan sailors
Story Highlights
Ten Sri Lankan sailors missing after Navy boat burst into flames and sank
Six sailors, including commander, rescued off rebel-held northeastern coast
None of the survivors or rescuers could explain what had happened to the boat
Sinking occurred early Saturday in high seas off the coast from Mullaitibu
COLOMBO, Sri Lanka (CNN) -- Ten Sri Lankan sailors were missing after a Navy boat suddenly burst into flames and sank off the rebel-held northeastern Sri Lankan coast early Saturday, Navy sources said.
Six sailors, including the commander, were rescued after the Fast Attack Craft sank, the sources said.
A search was under way Saturday for the 10 missing sailors, they said.
The sinking happened just after 2 a.m. in the high seas off the coast from Mullaitibu, a coastal village in the northeastern Sri Lankan region controlled by the Tamil Tiger rebel movement, the Navy sources said.
The sources said it was not immediately known what caused the boat to catch fire and sink. None of the survivors and no one on another Navy boat that was nearby heard or saw anything that would explain it, the sources said.
However, The Associated Press reported that Navy spokesman D.K.P. Dassanayake said he believed that rebels had planted a mine at sea.
The fighting in Sri Lanka pits government forces in a country dominated by the Sinhalese ethnic group against rebels from the Tamil minority.
The rebels are fighting for the creation of an independent nation, citing discrimination by the Sinhalese.
http://edition.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/asiapcf/03/22/srilanka.sailors/?iref=hpmostpop
10 sailors missing after navy ship hits floating mine off northern Sri Lanka
The Associated Press
Saturday, March 22, 2008 (International Herald Tribune)
COLOMBO, Sri Lanka: A Sri Lankan navy boat sank after apparently hitting a floating mine off the island's northern coast, leaving 10 sailors missing early Saturday, an official said.
However, a Web site linked to the Tamil Tiger rebels said the navy boat was actually hit by a suicide attack.
The incident occurred as intensified fighting raged between Sri Lankan troops and ethnic Tamil rebels elsewhere on the island.
Navy spokesman D.K.P. Dassanayake said he believed that rebels planted the mine at sea off northern Mullaitivu district.
Six sailors were rescued but 10 others who were on the boat were missing, Dassanayake said.
Pro-rebel Web site http://www.tamilnet.com said, however, that the insurgents launched a suicide attack on the boat, and that three of its fighters were also killed.
The Tamil Tigers, who have been fighting for an independent state for the country's ethnic minority Tamils since 1983, run a strong naval force. The rebels' suicide attackers often ram boats packed with explosives into government naval ships.
Meanwhile, the military said ground troops captured a crucial area in northern Mannar district Saturday.
Military spokesman Brig. Udaya Nanayakkara said holding the territory, though it is only about a square kilometer (0.4 square mile), is important to reduce the rebels' capacity to fire artillery and resupply their front lines.
On Friday night two soldiers were killed and six others were wounded when a mine planted by the rebels hit their bus in Mannar town, Nanayakkara said.
Rebel spokesman Rasiah Ilanthirayan could not be contacted for comment.
More than 70,000 people have been killed in Sri Lanka's violence, which originated from ethnic Tamils being marginalized for decades by a series of governments run by majority ethnic Sinhalese.
Both sides often exaggerates their enemies casualties and underreport their own.
http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2008/03/22/asia/AS-GEN-Sri-Lanka-Civil-War.php
S.Lanka bombs Tiger rebels after navy boat sunk
Sat Mar 22, 2008 7:19am EDT
By Rob Taylor
COLOMBO, March 22 (Reuters) - Sri Lankan air force jets bombed rebel Tamil Tiger ground positions on Saturday after a navy patrol boat was sunk by a suspected rebel mine off the northeast coast, with 10 of the 16 crew missing and feared dead.
Pro-Tamil sources said the Dvora fast attack boat was destroyed by a suicide squad of so-called black Tiger fighters, with three rebels killed in the sea clash.
But the military said the boat struck a mine during an early morning patrol by two navy craft in darkness near Nayaru area, around 300 kms (185 miles) north of the capital Colombo.
"We suspect it was an LTTE (Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam) sea mine," navy spokesman Commander D.K.P Dassanayake told Reuters, saying the explosion happened around 2am.
"The commander of the boat said it was raining and he heard an explosion, so we suspect it's a sea mine explosion as there were no LTTE boats around that time and there wasn't any confrontation," Dassanayake said.
The pro-Tiger website www.tamilnet.com said rebel suicide fighters destroyed the boat during a firefight that lasted up to 45 minutes, claiming 14 sailors were killed.
"Elite Black Sea Tigers, engaged in a confrontation with a fleet of the Sri Lanka Navy in the seas off Mullaiththeevu, attacked and sunk a Dvora Fast Attack Craft," the Web site said, citing Tiger sources in Vanni.
Both sides regularly make conflicting claims. Their reports are impossible to verify since Nordic peace monitors who had been keeping watch over a shaky ceasefire left the island this year.
They left after President Mahinda Rajapaksa formally scrapped a six-year truce in the country's 25-year civil war in January, accusing the rebels of using the peace to rearm. The navy ship was the second sunk by suspected Tigers since then.
SEPARATE INCIDENT
The military has been intensifying its campaign against the Tigers, who are fighting for an independent homeland, pressing forward in their northern strongholds and aiming to defeat them by year's end.
But in a separate incident, two government soldiers were killed and six others injured when their bus hit a Tiger landmine in the northwestern district of Mannar late Friday.
The military immediately struck back, launching multiple bombing raids on Sea Tiger radar and command positions near Nayaru and Puthukudyiruppu, which may have played a role in the rebel attack.
It was unclear if any Tiger fighters were killed, said Air Force spokesman Wing Commander Andrew Wijesuriya.
The military said they had also overrun Tiger positions near Parayanakulam, also in Mannar, killing 15 rebels for the loss of 2 government soldiers in a strategically vital area.
That bought the death toll in fighting this week to 158 rebels and seven soldiers. A search was still underway for the 10 crew missing from the navy attack craft.
The Tigers have hit back against the military offensive with regular attacks increasingly aimed at civilians and often using roadside bombs. An estimated 70,000 people have died since the war began in 1983.
(Additional reporting by Ranga Sirilal)
http://www.reuters.com/article/asiaCrisis/idUSSYD11548
Sri Lanka Airforce bombs rebel radar station and center
www.chinaview.cn 2008-03-22 19:09:21
COLOMBO, March 22 (Xinhua) -- The Sri Lankan Airforce here Saturday claimed a Tamil Tiger rebel radar station in the island's north was bombed and destroyed in an air strike.
Wing Commander Andy Wijesuriya, the Airforce spokesman said the air raids were carried out at 11 a.m. local time (0530 GMT) at Nayaru 300 kms northeast of Colombo.
In the second air raid which took place at 2.10 p.m local time (0840 GMT) a Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) sea Tiger wing co-ordinating center located at Puthukudyiruppu in the Mullaithivu district was destroyed, the Airforce said.
The air raids came as a Sri Lankan Navy fast attack craft was destroyed in the early hours of Saturday in a sea mine explosion at Nayaru.
The explosion happened around 2 a.m. local time (2030 GMT). The Navy said six out of the 16 on board had survived the explosion while it had launched a search operation to find and rescue the rest of the sailors.
The LTTE rebels claimed that the Navy attack craft was destroyed by them where they lost three of their Black sea Tigers.
However the Navy rejected the rebel claim stating that there was no confrontation whatsoever in the areas.
The clashes are part of the ongoing military action in the north of the island in the separatist war waged by the LTTE rebels on behalf of the Tamil minority.
Editor: Du Guodong
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-03/22/content_7839239.htm
SSCP and Security by Capt. (Retd.) H. Balakrishnan, IN (22 March 2008)
1. In my analysis of the SSCP, Part-6, pertained to "SSCP AND SECURITY". My threat perception included the 'Mine Threat'. Please read on !!
2. " Mine Threat: The prevailing depths in the SSCP make it an ideal area for the use of sea mines. It has already been highlighted about the acquisition of sophisticated conventional arms by various terrorist organizations. A rudimentary sea mine is far cheaper than any of the sophisticated missiles. And yet, the mines can block the channel from being used for protracted durations as Mine Countermeasures (MCM) is a slow, tedious and time consuming form of naval warfare. This threat needs to be seriously kept in mind while formulating security policies for the SSCP. It is hoped that the lessons learnt from MCM operations in the Straits of Hormuz during and after “Operation Desert Storm” is not lost on our policy planners."
2. In a perceptive paper presented at an International Symposium in Chennai conducted by the Centre for Security Analysis on 13/14 DEC 2006, Arabinda Acharya & Nadeeka Prashadani Withana from Singapore stated: " The LTTE is the pioneer in maritime terrorism with a state-of-the-art maritime terrorist organization. With its maritime terrorist arm called the "Sea Tigers", LTTE has been successful in destroying a large number of Sri Lankan naval vessels and personnel." Continuing, they further stated: " The LTTE also has an underwater unit which is responsible for infiltrating harbours to lay mines, conducting reconnaissance operations and recovering material from vessels that have been sunk. The Sea Tigers have developed improvised mines from everyday household objects such as rice cookers. Free floating mines have also been used ( eg. inside Trincomalee harbour) which are generally equipped with about 6 horns to prevent accidental detonation while floating. - - -- . In June 2006, 5 Sea Tigers were arrested by Sri Lankan police while laying mines off the shore of Wennappuwa (60 Kms North of Colombo). The mines were a nest type of improvised devices which the authorities believe was developed by the LTTE. The mines were similar to limpet mines and were designed to stick magnetically to the ship's hull. Each mine weighed between 10-15 Kgs and could be triggered to explode by a time-delay fuse or be made to explode remotely."
3. Against the foregoing backdrops, the 'Committee of Eminent Persons', have in their report to the Central Govt. on the section dealing with 'security', have stated in their wisdom: "Unfortunately, the threat by LTTE has been blown beyond the proportion".
4. Please read the report below and judge for yourselves whether the threat perceptions have been 'blown beyond the proportion'!! All it requires to shut down SSCP permanently is 'JUST ONE EXPLOSION'!!
Lanka naval vessel sinks in sea blast, 10 missing
22 Mar 2008, 1215 hrs IST,AGENCIES
COLOMBO: The LTTE said it sunk a Sri Lankan naval vessel early Saturday in a suicide attack where three rebels lost their lives.
The Navy however said there was no confrontation with the LTTE and the P438 Fast Attack Craft (FAC) deployed in the north-eastern coastal waters off Nayaru sunk due to a sea mine explosion around 2.00 am.
Six crew members of the vessel including the officer-in charge have been rescued and search operation is underway for other survivors, the Navy said.
The LTTE said it attacked and sunk the FAC between Mullaithivu and Nayaru. "Three Black Sea Tigers were killed in action," the pro-rebel website Tamilnet quoted LTTE sources in Wanni as saying.
However, the navy maintained that no LTTE sea craft was present in the area when its vessel sank.
The boat was caught in the explosion of a sea mine "unscrupulously" laid by the LTTE in a bid to avenge repeated losses in the recent past, navy sources said.
"The impending consequence (of the blast) was unavoidable peril leaving the crew with no alternative other than abandoning the craft," an official said.
"They then got onto life rafts and started drifting and six members of the crew have thereafter been rescued by other boats," he said.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/msid-2889054,prtpage-1.cms
PROTECTION OF RAM SETHU AS UNDERWATER CULTURAL HERITAGE
Statement by S.R.Rao, President, Society for Marine Archaeology
Submerged sites and towns as well as ship-wrecks constitute a very important cultural heritage of mankind; which the UNESCO wants the states to explore, list and protect them under a UN convention approved by the U.N. the ICOMOS international committee on underwater cultural heritage (ICUCH) consisting of "Underwater Cultural Heritage". The ILA's Definition on underwater Cultural Heritage includes all underwater traces of human existence, which are of historical or cultural importance including sites, buildings, shipwrecks, together with their archaeological and natural context. The Ram Sethu comes under this category. It is refered to in the Epic Ramayana and in the Puranas. At the site known as Ram Sethu, the natural rock and the 'piles of stone' laid on it have been submerged with the rise in sea level over 5000 years or more. This rise of sea level was not confined to Dvaraka of Mahabharata period in saurashtra. The underwater exploration by Marine Archeology centre (MAC) in NIO Goa along west coast has revealed that the prehistoric ports of Somnath and Prabhas were also submerged as is evident from the submerged channel waylaid for bringing ships and the presence of anchors and mooring stones in it.In the Elephanta Island , the early historic brick structures of 1st century B.C to 3rd century A.D. have been submerged. The Buddhist period port of sopora is also submerged. On the east coast of India, traces of poompuhar port town have been found in the sea as well as intertidal zone. The rock of Ram Sethu must have been in the intertidal zone and stones must have been piled up to enable the army to cross the sea easily. Over thousands of years small size stone blocks of bridges must have been transported by waves and currents. The frequent textual references to Ram Sethu are not to be dismissed as myths. (Mr.R.Subbarayalu has compiled two millennium old references found in Tamil literature in a 200 page book 'Sethu Bandhanam'). Even the submergence of Dvaraka was considered a myth until the buildings were discovered. The national institute of Oceanography in cooperation with ASI should be asked to undertake the survey listing and protection of important underwater sites and shipwrecks. This works must be undertaken by the Government of India and State Governments as laid down in UN Convention on Protection of Underwater cultural heritage. Ram Sethu must not be damaged but saved and protected. The MAC had initiated certain steps for survey and listing of underwater cultural Heritage of India and even published a tentative map showing shipwrecks sites and submerged parts. Before further damage is done by nature and men to this vast underwater heritage of India, immediate survey listing of Sites with a brief note on each wreck or site should be done , giving highest priority to Ram Sethu.
Sd/-
S.R.Rao,
Former Scientist emeritus
President- Society for Marine Archaeology in India
Warning to SSCP security: Lanka vessel sinks in sea-mine blast
Warning to SSCP security: Lanka naval vessel sinks in sea-mine blast, 10 missing
22 Mar 2008, 1215 hrs IST , AGENCIES
COLOMBO: The LTTE said it sunk a Sri Lankan naval vessel early Saturday in a suicide attack where three rebels lost their lives.
The Navy however said there was no confrontation with the LTTE and the P438 Fast Attack Craft (FAC) deployed in the north-eastern coastal waters off Nayaru sunk due to a sea mine explosion around 2.00 am.
Six crew members of the vessel including the officer-in charge have been rescued and search operation is underway for other survivors, the Navy said.
The LTTE said it attacked and sunk the FAC between Mullaithivu and Nayaru. "Three Black Sea Tigers were killed in action," the pro-rebel website Tamilnet quoted LTTE sources in Wanni as saying.
However, the navy maintained that no LTTE sea craft was present in the area when its vessel sank.
The boat was caught in the explosion of a sea mine "unscrupulously" laid by the LTTE in a bid to avenge repeated losses in the recent past, navy sources said.
"The impending consequence (of the blast) was unavoidable peril leaving the crew with no alternative other than abandoning the craft," an official said.
"They then got onto life rafts and started drifting and six members of the crew have thereafter been rescued by other boats," he said.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Lanka_naval_vessel_sinks_in_sea_blast_10_missing/articleshow/2889054.cms
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Lanka_naval_vessel_sinks_in_sea_blast_10_missing/articleshow/2889054.cms
22 Mar 2008, 1215 hrs IST , AGENCIES
COLOMBO: The LTTE said it sunk a Sri Lankan naval vessel early Saturday in a suicide attack where three rebels lost their lives.
The Navy however said there was no confrontation with the LTTE and the P438 Fast Attack Craft (FAC) deployed in the north-eastern coastal waters off Nayaru sunk due to a sea mine explosion around 2.00 am.
Six crew members of the vessel including the officer-in charge have been rescued and search operation is underway for other survivors, the Navy said.
The LTTE said it attacked and sunk the FAC between Mullaithivu and Nayaru. "Three Black Sea Tigers were killed in action," the pro-rebel website Tamilnet quoted LTTE sources in Wanni as saying.
However, the navy maintained that no LTTE sea craft was present in the area when its vessel sank.
The boat was caught in the explosion of a sea mine "unscrupulously" laid by the LTTE in a bid to avenge repeated losses in the recent past, navy sources said.
"The impending consequence (of the blast) was unavoidable peril leaving the crew with no alternative other than abandoning the craft," an official said.
"They then got onto life rafts and started drifting and six members of the crew have thereafter been rescued by other boats," he said.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Lanka_naval_vessel_sinks_in_sea_blast_10_missing/articleshow/2889054.cms
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Lanka_naval_vessel_sinks_in_sea_blast_10_missing/articleshow/2889054.cms
SSCP: illegalities and failures in geological planning endangering geo-stability
SSCP: illegalities and failures in geological planning endangering geo-stability
Comments by K. Gopala Krishnan, Director (Retd.) Geological survey of India (20 March 2008):
The two reports submitted by us, one the Geological and geotectonic setting of the Palk Bay – Gulf of Mannar area and its relevance to SSCP (22 Pages with 24 figures and one table) and , the other one, Geoscientific status of Rama Sethu ( 9 pages 11 figures) have been completely ignored by the Committee of Eminent Persons (CEP) inspite of our personal presentation.
In these reports, we raised certain serious concern over some specific aspects of SSCP
1. No detailed Geo-technical evaluation report for SSCP as a whole has been prepared by any competent geo-scientific agency as a part of pre-project studies. A report entitled report on geological and geo-technical assessment of the sub-strata for the proposed Sethu samudhram Navigational channel submitted by National Institute of Ocean Technology (NIOT) does not cover all the necessary aspects of geotechnical studies –
a) Study of a geological, structural and geotectonic features including sesimotectonic signatures (Earthquakes).
b) The determination of the strength and stability and or weaknesses of the foundation and walls of the proposed canals.
c) Rendering Geo technical advise to the project authorities for any remedial measures and treatments to be given to the weak planes in the foundation and wall structures as well as the type of materials to be used.
2. No detailed geo environmental assessment has been prepared for SSCP. The EIA report of National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI) does not include the following aspect of Geo-environmental assessment such as
a. Assessing the Geo-environmental resource potential – Minerals, Ground Water, natural geological and geo-morphological features as well as associated natural geological processes.
b. Environmental Impact Assessment of impacts likely to be caused to the above resources as well as to the environment as a whole.
c. Geo-environmental Management Planning defining the methodology and remedial measures for deducing the impacts for sustainable development.
3. Out studies indicated that there are 4 sets of active faults in the project area which are active during the present day producing vertical as well as lateral movements of blocks. The surface manifestations of these movements have brought in subsidence, submergence and slump structures.
4. Out studies also point to the existence of higher heat flow signatures in and around the project area which are reflected in the form of hot water springs on the surface. The source of this heat flow is related to the buried recent volcanic vents that are reported in Gulf of Mannar and off Pondicherry.
5. Geophysical studies indicate that SSCP area is vulnerable to earthquakes. Epicenters of recent earth tremors of moderate magnitude ( 4to7 M) are recorded in Gulf of Mannar, Palk Bay and off Pondicherry Coast.
6. Our studies also indicated that Tsunami waves will move with high intensity following lateral movements of active faults.
7. Our studies also indicated various geo-environmental impacts on the project area and its environ. The most important impact likely to take place will be the instability of SSCP canals and the channels by susidence, erosion and collapse of canal mouths, collapse of canal walls inducing large volume of sediments to move and block sea passages as well as submarine land slides leading to local Tsunamis
8. We have suggested in our reports, the necessity for carrying out various types of detailed remote sensing studies using satellite imaginaries of different band widths and wave lengths including Thermal Infra- Red imaginaries as well as different modeling studies on various aspects.
9. We have recommended the constitution of a Multidisciplinary Scientific Expert Committee to review all aspects of SSCP in a holistic fashion and suggest suitable types of further studies and their quantum.
10. On the status of Rama Sethu in our second report we have stressed that no detailed holistic scientific study on Rama Sethu has been done so far by any competent agency. Whatever has been stated on the Rama Sethu are based on spill over data from investigations that had different objectives. The important question should be not on the status of Rama Sethu physical feature, but whether any temporary bridge structure ever existed over it or any remnant of such bridge structure is existing on it at present. So far no detailed study with this objective has been carried out. We have recommended such a Marine Geo- archeological studies on Rama Sethu for this purpose.
11. The report of CEP states that the corals found on the Adams Bridge are in-situ biogenic coral reefs. on page 42. However this has been negated and contradicted in the report itself (vide pare 5.3.2 (ii) on page 49), where it is stated that the corals where uprooted, fragmented during cyclonic storms and deposited over the tectonic platform of Adams Bridge.
12. In the report of CEP vide pare 5.3, it is mentioned in all the bore holes, the coral occur in different depths and that there is no uniformity and continuity in the vertical and horizontal prevalence in the occurrence of coral, and that it is a clear cut natural stratigraphic cycle of sedimentation process. It is not a man-made feature. This nature of occurrence of coral, not extending at the same level in the adjoining bore hole, will indicate that it ends between bore holes which will probably means that it is a boulder like formation. The other statement in the report that the presence of coral and sand layers towards the top over a silty clay sequence cannot be regarded as a man-made layer serving as a cause-way bridge can also be interpreted as a simple road construction engineering phenomena. It is common practice that during road construction that repeated layers of boulders alternating with soil will be put to get proper compaction, and the behavior in bore holes noticed on Adams Bridge is very much akin to road construction.
13. In the report of CEP, the figure 5.1 on page 46 shows reconstructed natural depositional events in Adams Bridge area. It shows the bore hole log of BH5 of NIOT, and attributes different specific marine and current energy conditions for the formation of various layers within the vertical column. Coral formation is attributed to high energy shallow marine storm conditions. Similar condition should exit for the deposition of similar formations in adjoining boreholes also. As it is already been stated that corals do not extend at the same level to adjoining bore holes, if the above energy criteria is invoked, it will point to sudden change in the marine current energy conditions within short distance between two bore holes. This cannot happen in nature. Therefore it could only be inferred that the rocks, coral and any other occurring in the same level in two adjoining bore holes can only be different rock boulders which are earlier formed under different marine conditions and are placed at the same level by extraneous forces.
14. Para 5.4 of CEP report states that the opening of Sethu Samudram Channel will not have any impact due to cyclonic storms and Tsunamis on this fragile ecosystem. This is an erroneous conclusion. It is shown in the report of CEP that sediment influxes in large quantities are taking place even during normal times from the Bay of Bengal to Palk Bay. Palk Bay is already a shallow sea with highly turbid water. On the other hand Gulf of Mannar is a deep sea with clear water. At present, Adams Bridge / Rama Sethu acts as a barrier /check-dam preventing the sedments ladden turbid waters to flow from Palk Bay to Gulf of Mannar. If SSCP canal is cut across Adams Bridge, the turbid waters along with sediments will flow with high velocity and force through this narrow channel during Tsunamis and cyclones and fall into the Gulf of Mannar. The Gulf of Mannar side has a steep slope and this sediment-ladden water will fall like a waterfall creating further turbulence, and affect the tranquil nature of Gulf of Mannar waters, which will lead to disturbances in the fragile eco-system prevailing there.
15. Under para 5.4.3 and 5.4.4 it is stated that the future Tsunami waves also will travel towards the Indian coast only in East-West direction. The North-South trending SSCP Canal will actually reduce the wave energy. This is again a false statement as the SSCP Canal on the northern side cutting the Palk Strait is oriented along ENE – WSW direction and not along North-South. As such the future Tsunami waves even if they travel only in westward direction, this channel will act as a narrow tunnel to push the waves to cause heavy destructions.
16. Under para 5.4.5, the CEP report says the opening of the channel of SSCP will not play any role in increasing or decreasing the placer deposits of monazite, ilmenite, garnet, etc in the southern Tamilnadu and Kerala and that such minerals are already occurring in enormous amounts in other parts of our country. The above statements are highly inaccurate. No placer mineral deposit having monazite, ilmenite, etc of such large reserves and high grade occur in any other part of India.
17. It is to be noted that the above minerals are called heavy minerals because of their higher specific gravity. These minerals having been brought to the ocean along with sand and other mineral grains need particular type of current energy to jig, separate and concentrate them. The currents also need a specific orientation and direction for transporting such material to our coast. It has already been pointed out in the previous paras that opening up of SSCP Canal across Adams Bridge will induce large volume of turbid water of Palk Bay to fall into Gulf of Mannar with great force disturbing its tranquility. Such a disturbance will certainly reduce the current energies and their orientations. As a consequence there may not be much concentration of the heavy mineral or deposition of the same on our coast.
18. During the last Tsunami it was observed that the Tsunami waves after hitting the coast moved considerable distances on the land and later withdrew with force dragging lot of material back into the ocean. If large future Tsunamis which are likely to come through SSCP Canals into Gulf of Mannar attack the coast with added force, it is likely that they can drag the already existing heavy mineral deposits back into the ocean. This probability cannot be ruled out since incursions and withdrawal of sea are taking place along Tamil Nadu Coast regularly nowadays and detailed modeling studies with different wave energy patterns, varying amounts of heavy minerals and different orientation directions are necessary coupled with detailed Tsunami modeling studies in this area.
19. The CEP reports attempts at proving that Rama Sethu / Adam’s bridge is formed by natural sedimentation process only and it is not a man made structure. However, as has been stated earlier no holistic scientific studies on Rama Sethu are conducted with a clear objective to find whether any temporary cause-way cum bridge existed there or any part of it is existing at present on the structure.
In our studies regarding the scientific status of Rama Sethu the following geographical signatures are noticed.
• It rises as a Very Steep Wall-like Feature from the Gulf of Mannar
• It is a “Strait” joining two seas-Palk Bay and Gulf of Mannar
• It is an “Isthmus” connecting two land masses – Rameswaram and Thalai Mannar islands under the sea.
• It is a unique curvilinear feature.
• It is nearly 17 Lakhs year old.
• It is a “Barrier Zone” that separates two contrasting seas- the shallow and turbid waters of Palk Bay from the deep and clear waters of Gulf of Mannar.
• It is a “Barrier / Protection Zone” against “Tsunami” impacts.
Due to theses reasons themselves, Rama Sethu can be declared as an “International Geographical Heritage Site” and protected.
20. Our studies also brought to light the accuracy and authenticity of Valmiki Ramayana in terms of Geographical and certain distinct Geological aspects.
The veracity of this historical narration is evident in Valmiki’s references to a number of places and natural features in the country such as rivers, hills, etc., are still extant especially in southern parts of Tamil Nadu. The references to “Ayamukha Paravatha from which the placid waters of Kaveri are seen” indicating the iron ore bearing Kanjamalai hills, south of Salem is so accurate in terms of Geography and Geology Similarly, the locales and descriptions of Agasthiyamalai, Thambrparani river, the rising Mahendra Giri Hill, Rameswaram and Gandahamana Paravatha are described in detail very accurately.
Valmiki’s descriptions of sea waves lashing against the foot hills of Mahendra Giri is supported by the reported occurrence of marine, fossiliferrous limestone in this area. It is to be noted that Mahendra Giri is at present far inland to the north of Nagercoil. Another interesting geological phenomena was described in the yuddha kanda of Valmikl Ramayana. When Rama requested the lord of sea to give way for his army to cross over to Srilanka and when the lord of sea did not appear in front of Sri Rama, Valimiki decribes that Sri Rama sent powerful arrows into the ocean. The entire earth trembled and large waves erupted followed by high heat and fire. It is very significant that this area is prone to earth quakes, high tidal waves and tsunami, and buried volcanoes. Valmiki also describes about certain floating stones that have been used for the construction of Rama’s bridge. In nature, two such stones namely, pumice (a volcanic rock) and non-silicifide coral rock will float in water. These rocks occur in the Adam’s Bridge and Gulf of Mannar areas All these geographical, geological features and phenomena cannot have come from the wild imagination of a poet sitting thousands of miles away in Ayodhiya. It is therefore, very clear that Ramayana is certainly a historical document supported by scientifical evidences
21. Astronomical evidences brought out recently by Pushkar Bhatnagar (Era of Rama, Ruba &CO, New Delhi) indicate that the age of Rama is around 7000 Before Present (BP). It is well known scientific fact that specific planetary positions will not repeat in millions of years. Using the planetorium software of NASA, Pushkar Bhatnagar recalibrated and recalculated the planetary positions described in Valmiki Ramayana during different events in Rama’s life, such as Rama’s birthday, the day before Rama’s initial Pattabhishegam, the killing of demons Kara–Dhushan, killing of Vali, meeting of Hanuman and Sita at Srilanka etc., the last three being eclipses. These determinations coincide very accurately with the periods of events described in Ramayana.
22. Our report on Rama Sethu also interprets the following from the bore hole data of NIOT. Below a zone of loose marine sand upto 7 to 9 m depth, a zone of boulders made up of calcareous sandstone and coral inter-layered with silt and sand is encountered between 9 to 20 m. Below 20 to 22 m another marine loose sand is encountered. Similar geological setup is also reported from certain publications on the Thalai Mannar side of Srilanka. Such type of boulder beds between loose sand layers cannot be formed either by natural marine processes or by river processes along the sea coast. As such these beds should be a man-made structure only.
23. To confirm such an interpretation, we have suggestedgeo-archaeological studies on the Rama Sethu / Adam’s bridge by large scale and deep pitting upto 25 m depth till the second loose sand zone is reached. Under-water video graphy and sampling of the four walls and the bottom at 50 cm interval for finding the composition, nature and age of the different formations are suggested. This will clearly establish the true nature of the Rama’s bridge.
SSCP illegalities and failures in geological planning
By K. Gopalakrishnan, Director (Retd.), Geological Survey of India (20 March 2008)
Geological planning is very essential. We have presented detailed technical paper for about 20 papers which have not been considered by thee committee. Another is Rama Sethu on scientific aspects. In this we have used geography, geology and scientific and Ramayana is historic and whatever wee have described is authentic. On the bridge constructed itself so that they are taking only what they are searching for is with reference to those investigators and the title of import itself. It is in the understanding substrata for understanding the project.
I want clear indication of how to approach the court and not scientic. The court understand is another thing as technically they have opted. It should be simplified and in easy language. We do not need to go to concrete details and court also will not be able to. So we will be describing in this committee of eminent persons by all Vice Chancellor that what we have observed about the nature, its consequences and specialize. Hence we will reserve to this because they are satisfied with all the factual basis.
When we read this report, this is also is about something else. They give detail reconstruction that is given by the other company which have referred , who appointed, how they gave this report , what was the reference to that. We do not know whether they oriented this towards this. There geological formation. Upto what extend is the geological formation is the most important question. What is the distance between ocean surface and the geological. For the top two to three metres you go loose sand. Anything that happens naturally by the course of events is called geological formation.
First thing is whether the bridge is man-made or natural formation. now we have to say that it is man-made and not natural. But we can establish this point only archeological survey.
So far as the present investigation that has been made, says that they admit that it is not possible to say unless a comprehensive geological survey is made and the outcome also they cannot predict. The purpose of this investigation is made to find whether any layer is naturally formed or artificial. The assertion on the report that there is nothing man-made is hypothetical and assumption so what are the reasons they give for he purpose say, we have to advert only to that.
So far as Gulf of Mannar is concerned depth goes upto 3000 metres and it is very deep. The sea is very calm and clear and cyclones do not cross them. The risk for that is Sethu bridge once you make 3,000 wide and so m uch deep, it will affected the Gulf of Mannar. They say it will not affect and nothing will happen and water will still remain calm and that would not affect anything. we have to clearly demonstrate that it is fully assumption and it is totally incorrect and the very fact is not fair.
Once the canal is cut on the Sethu, it will fall like a waterfall sediment. In the Gulf of Mannar area from the Rama Sethu, they say it is very steep. There is 4 meter steep which is not so steep but suddenly it goes down to 3000 metres. So this is the area and also prons and other things. Even NEERI has not clearly stated about this.
Bay of Bengal is cyclonic prone and it is a hybrid for fish potential. We have got high saline in the sea which nurtures lot of species. That is the most important thing. Which drafting reply we will emphasis this part alone in simple language, difference between the two seas, Gulf of Mannar and Palk Blair and distance between Arabian Sea. Wee will extract this statement also then come into this details and how ecology will be disturbed. They now taken the kilometer distance for his salinement. From the island, Gulf of Mannar is 20 kilometer. There are two islands. Why not it is 15 kilometeres? Answer is we cannot go beyond 15 kilometers because of International Maritime Boundary Line. Three things are breeding ground, slope in that area and breeding stretch. That is the only maximum distance we can go but that will be minimum towards the island is concerned.
Park Strait is a very shadow region and there once they cut the channel 10 metres depth and 200 metres deep, it will become part of Bay of Bengal. Therefore speed will affect the channel. Actually we are cutting Bay of Bengal also into Gulf of Mannar. What is the distance between Palk Strait and Rama Sethu? It is only 80 kms. It is nothing if the wave come in great speed then it will directly hit and Gulf of Mannar will be lost.
The North South statement about the alignment is also a false statement because they are talking only about the bottom portion and then they are talking about the sudden change in construction. East Coast is very shallow. You are giving no room for the big ship to manovar. 52 kilometres of work has already been completed.
In the documentation that Mr. Gopalakrishnan has placed in page 27, it has been declared as geological monument. This Thirumala map shows area and it comes under Geological Act. In Tamilnadu we have huge fossil which has been declared as geological monuments. You must stress on different regimes which has happened in the pathway and Gulf of Mannar with regard to geological, physical and Chemical formation and how by going through this channel we have personal regimes. The present alignment of North South or towards east which will also bring in some problems which will bring more of Palk Way and Gulf of Mannar to join. The monument is a reliable point which require some more expertise.
What are the breeding grounds? Wherever there is certain stagnation of water, they are best for breeding grounds. Rama Sethu area where ever the depth is less than 500 metres it is best for breedingt. Very important thing is corals. One of the reason that Mr. Balakrishnan say is sea should be clear, calm, light should be there and turbidity should not be there.
Bottom should be hard because it needs surface to hand on. So you cannot have an erosion. 100 metres will also hold good below that we cannot have. Water should also be minimum of 20oC
In Encyclopedia it is given that if water is very calm and quite, corals can be there and they also need clinging surface to hold on which should be hard. It cannot breed on sand.
Coral rock is not hard. It will break. It is very brittle, it cannot build on weight. People can walk on it but it cannot bare heavy weight. If it is along with calcareous sediment, the man can walk on coral rock and you can see it in Rameswaram.
As analysed this as a mariner. The basic thing mentioned in te official document is that it reduces sailing distance to some nauticle mailes. This reduction in voyage will lead to reduction in voyage of time. This reduction in the voyage of time means saving in feul which is translated in terms of cause effectiveness. This is the basic definition for SSCP project.
Path way area is a high risk area for cyclonic activity which is in October to January that is North East monsoon. The matter is that any cyclone or depression that comes near Nagapatnam is going to affect Sethu Samudiram, Gulf of Mannar and Pathway. More severe cyclone will influence the channel. If it crosses East Coast of India at 100 miles, Sethu Samudiram will be affected because winds speed is so high that excess of 100 kilometeres it will go into the Sethu Samudiram. It is the crux of the matter of tropical cyclone. So it is clear that any ship that travels through Sethu Samudiram will be more safe if it gois straight. Second the cyclonic activity is going to bring lot of sediment. It will empty itself in Sethu Samudiram effect you have to do maintaining for which little amount was allotted as 0.2 million per cubic metres.
Next aspect is with regard to sediment. Maritime terrorist is here to stay. It does exist and lot of conventional arms are going around in the world. One example is maritime terrorism. On October 2000, Alquida carried suicide attack on US canal, then French Limberg was attack in the same manner.
Sethu Samudiram is next to area of operation of LTTE and they have carried out enough and daring attack on suicide ships. Now they also have their air capability but we cannot say LTTE has lost in the war and we cannot say LTTE will not pose any threat.
Allied factors of Sethu Samudiram official website carry lots of false statements. It gives an impression as if Navy and Coast Guard are traveling on daily basis. Navy is of two types: eastern fleet that was established in Bangladesh war and Western fleet. These two meet probably only once in a year.
You need large sea area to manovar. We cannot forger about navy risk. Example Naval attack in Karachi, Turkey shoot. During war time no ship will be near the coast. Even their justification is not correct. This Sethu Samudiram Channel is not a open water way. This is a very important point. If I am at sea I can sail my ship in the way I want but in Sethu Samudiram it is not possible. This is a drawback because if any rubber boat carrying weapons comes on the way in the Sethu Samudiram Channal,the big ships cannot find it and even if they find out by luck, they will not be able to change the direction of the ship without being hit.
They say that 50% of saving. But 50% saving of what? 75% of internal rats return. Cant they be more specific?
Reference was made with regard to the article written by former deputy Chanel of Chennai port trust. The official website do not show what is the pilotage rate and what is the charge that you are going to levy. Even if we calculate the pilotage rate with regard to the Chennai Port it comes to 50 lakhs. They also till now do not know how much they are going to spend every ear for dredging and maintenance. The total cost of saving is only 7 lakhs if one travels through Sethu Samudiram Canal.
The savings in time is not commensurate with the savings in distance because of slow speed of travel through Sethu Samudiram because we have to change the speed slow from open sea to Sethu Samudiram. Example Eden to Chennai via Sethu samudiram is104. net savings is only 4 lakhs. Even if you charge 6 lakhs you are saving only marginal. The time saving is also only 19.2 hours but the website says it is 30-36 hours to maximum at this nautical speed.
They have mentioned about environment good like using LSHD diesel but the cost of lower sulphur high diesel is one and a half time higher than the high speed diesel. So the cost effective matter is wiped out.
What is the alternative? We can only close this project, cut your losses to minimum as it is not too late and close it without seeing any prestige.
The another matter that one should see is threat matrix. No major scientific study is available in the official report describing the construction of Sethu Samudiram Shipping Project. Reference was made with regard to the The NewsToday evening paper issue on 2nd Feb’08 to the article written by Sri. V. Sethuraman which states that this project is a threat to national security. This project is economic approach. But external cost of approach should have been brought which should have been taken into account.
LTTE ranks number one in all the marine terrorist according to Peter Lehar, who is a security analyst in St, Andrews University at Scotland. Reference was also made with regard to Arabindo Acharya and Nadika Prashardani Vidha in page 207 which states that LTTE has periodically hijacked the ship which is there is part VI. Next stress made with regard to the suicide operation by black sea tigers which is there in page 209.
Keezhakarai is a coastal populated area which is very near to Sethu Samudiram.
The Asian tribune in Srilankan paper had said that one third of Jaffana coast will submerge if Sethu Samudiram is done. Hence they have not consulted Geological survey, NIO also. This shows the competency of the members of not even knowing the outside concern. I don’t know whether it is accidental or deliberate. There was no mariner, not security expert no Biologist, etc.
More than 50 lakhs people depending on the marine fishing and their families are going to be affected. The country gets around 4000 million as export duty from fishery industry from Tamilnadu itself. This revenue will be affected because of this project.
Comments by K. Gopala Krishnan, Director (Retd.) Geological survey of India (20 March 2008):
The two reports submitted by us, one the Geological and geotectonic setting of the Palk Bay – Gulf of Mannar area and its relevance to SSCP (22 Pages with 24 figures and one table) and , the other one, Geoscientific status of Rama Sethu ( 9 pages 11 figures) have been completely ignored by the Committee of Eminent Persons (CEP) inspite of our personal presentation.
In these reports, we raised certain serious concern over some specific aspects of SSCP
1. No detailed Geo-technical evaluation report for SSCP as a whole has been prepared by any competent geo-scientific agency as a part of pre-project studies. A report entitled report on geological and geo-technical assessment of the sub-strata for the proposed Sethu samudhram Navigational channel submitted by National Institute of Ocean Technology (NIOT) does not cover all the necessary aspects of geotechnical studies –
a) Study of a geological, structural and geotectonic features including sesimotectonic signatures (Earthquakes).
b) The determination of the strength and stability and or weaknesses of the foundation and walls of the proposed canals.
c) Rendering Geo technical advise to the project authorities for any remedial measures and treatments to be given to the weak planes in the foundation and wall structures as well as the type of materials to be used.
2. No detailed geo environmental assessment has been prepared for SSCP. The EIA report of National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI) does not include the following aspect of Geo-environmental assessment such as
a. Assessing the Geo-environmental resource potential – Minerals, Ground Water, natural geological and geo-morphological features as well as associated natural geological processes.
b. Environmental Impact Assessment of impacts likely to be caused to the above resources as well as to the environment as a whole.
c. Geo-environmental Management Planning defining the methodology and remedial measures for deducing the impacts for sustainable development.
3. Out studies indicated that there are 4 sets of active faults in the project area which are active during the present day producing vertical as well as lateral movements of blocks. The surface manifestations of these movements have brought in subsidence, submergence and slump structures.
4. Out studies also point to the existence of higher heat flow signatures in and around the project area which are reflected in the form of hot water springs on the surface. The source of this heat flow is related to the buried recent volcanic vents that are reported in Gulf of Mannar and off Pondicherry.
5. Geophysical studies indicate that SSCP area is vulnerable to earthquakes. Epicenters of recent earth tremors of moderate magnitude ( 4to7 M) are recorded in Gulf of Mannar, Palk Bay and off Pondicherry Coast.
6. Our studies also indicated that Tsunami waves will move with high intensity following lateral movements of active faults.
7. Our studies also indicated various geo-environmental impacts on the project area and its environ. The most important impact likely to take place will be the instability of SSCP canals and the channels by susidence, erosion and collapse of canal mouths, collapse of canal walls inducing large volume of sediments to move and block sea passages as well as submarine land slides leading to local Tsunamis
8. We have suggested in our reports, the necessity for carrying out various types of detailed remote sensing studies using satellite imaginaries of different band widths and wave lengths including Thermal Infra- Red imaginaries as well as different modeling studies on various aspects.
9. We have recommended the constitution of a Multidisciplinary Scientific Expert Committee to review all aspects of SSCP in a holistic fashion and suggest suitable types of further studies and their quantum.
10. On the status of Rama Sethu in our second report we have stressed that no detailed holistic scientific study on Rama Sethu has been done so far by any competent agency. Whatever has been stated on the Rama Sethu are based on spill over data from investigations that had different objectives. The important question should be not on the status of Rama Sethu physical feature, but whether any temporary bridge structure ever existed over it or any remnant of such bridge structure is existing on it at present. So far no detailed study with this objective has been carried out. We have recommended such a Marine Geo- archeological studies on Rama Sethu for this purpose.
11. The report of CEP states that the corals found on the Adams Bridge are in-situ biogenic coral reefs. on page 42. However this has been negated and contradicted in the report itself (vide pare 5.3.2 (ii) on page 49), where it is stated that the corals where uprooted, fragmented during cyclonic storms and deposited over the tectonic platform of Adams Bridge.
12. In the report of CEP vide pare 5.3, it is mentioned in all the bore holes, the coral occur in different depths and that there is no uniformity and continuity in the vertical and horizontal prevalence in the occurrence of coral, and that it is a clear cut natural stratigraphic cycle of sedimentation process. It is not a man-made feature. This nature of occurrence of coral, not extending at the same level in the adjoining bore hole, will indicate that it ends between bore holes which will probably means that it is a boulder like formation. The other statement in the report that the presence of coral and sand layers towards the top over a silty clay sequence cannot be regarded as a man-made layer serving as a cause-way bridge can also be interpreted as a simple road construction engineering phenomena. It is common practice that during road construction that repeated layers of boulders alternating with soil will be put to get proper compaction, and the behavior in bore holes noticed on Adams Bridge is very much akin to road construction.
13. In the report of CEP, the figure 5.1 on page 46 shows reconstructed natural depositional events in Adams Bridge area. It shows the bore hole log of BH5 of NIOT, and attributes different specific marine and current energy conditions for the formation of various layers within the vertical column. Coral formation is attributed to high energy shallow marine storm conditions. Similar condition should exit for the deposition of similar formations in adjoining boreholes also. As it is already been stated that corals do not extend at the same level to adjoining bore holes, if the above energy criteria is invoked, it will point to sudden change in the marine current energy conditions within short distance between two bore holes. This cannot happen in nature. Therefore it could only be inferred that the rocks, coral and any other occurring in the same level in two adjoining bore holes can only be different rock boulders which are earlier formed under different marine conditions and are placed at the same level by extraneous forces.
14. Para 5.4 of CEP report states that the opening of Sethu Samudram Channel will not have any impact due to cyclonic storms and Tsunamis on this fragile ecosystem. This is an erroneous conclusion. It is shown in the report of CEP that sediment influxes in large quantities are taking place even during normal times from the Bay of Bengal to Palk Bay. Palk Bay is already a shallow sea with highly turbid water. On the other hand Gulf of Mannar is a deep sea with clear water. At present, Adams Bridge / Rama Sethu acts as a barrier /check-dam preventing the sedments ladden turbid waters to flow from Palk Bay to Gulf of Mannar. If SSCP canal is cut across Adams Bridge, the turbid waters along with sediments will flow with high velocity and force through this narrow channel during Tsunamis and cyclones and fall into the Gulf of Mannar. The Gulf of Mannar side has a steep slope and this sediment-ladden water will fall like a waterfall creating further turbulence, and affect the tranquil nature of Gulf of Mannar waters, which will lead to disturbances in the fragile eco-system prevailing there.
15. Under para 5.4.3 and 5.4.4 it is stated that the future Tsunami waves also will travel towards the Indian coast only in East-West direction. The North-South trending SSCP Canal will actually reduce the wave energy. This is again a false statement as the SSCP Canal on the northern side cutting the Palk Strait is oriented along ENE – WSW direction and not along North-South. As such the future Tsunami waves even if they travel only in westward direction, this channel will act as a narrow tunnel to push the waves to cause heavy destructions.
16. Under para 5.4.5, the CEP report says the opening of the channel of SSCP will not play any role in increasing or decreasing the placer deposits of monazite, ilmenite, garnet, etc in the southern Tamilnadu and Kerala and that such minerals are already occurring in enormous amounts in other parts of our country. The above statements are highly inaccurate. No placer mineral deposit having monazite, ilmenite, etc of such large reserves and high grade occur in any other part of India.
17. It is to be noted that the above minerals are called heavy minerals because of their higher specific gravity. These minerals having been brought to the ocean along with sand and other mineral grains need particular type of current energy to jig, separate and concentrate them. The currents also need a specific orientation and direction for transporting such material to our coast. It has already been pointed out in the previous paras that opening up of SSCP Canal across Adams Bridge will induce large volume of turbid water of Palk Bay to fall into Gulf of Mannar with great force disturbing its tranquility. Such a disturbance will certainly reduce the current energies and their orientations. As a consequence there may not be much concentration of the heavy mineral or deposition of the same on our coast.
18. During the last Tsunami it was observed that the Tsunami waves after hitting the coast moved considerable distances on the land and later withdrew with force dragging lot of material back into the ocean. If large future Tsunamis which are likely to come through SSCP Canals into Gulf of Mannar attack the coast with added force, it is likely that they can drag the already existing heavy mineral deposits back into the ocean. This probability cannot be ruled out since incursions and withdrawal of sea are taking place along Tamil Nadu Coast regularly nowadays and detailed modeling studies with different wave energy patterns, varying amounts of heavy minerals and different orientation directions are necessary coupled with detailed Tsunami modeling studies in this area.
19. The CEP reports attempts at proving that Rama Sethu / Adam’s bridge is formed by natural sedimentation process only and it is not a man made structure. However, as has been stated earlier no holistic scientific studies on Rama Sethu are conducted with a clear objective to find whether any temporary cause-way cum bridge existed there or any part of it is existing at present on the structure.
In our studies regarding the scientific status of Rama Sethu the following geographical signatures are noticed.
• It rises as a Very Steep Wall-like Feature from the Gulf of Mannar
• It is a “Strait” joining two seas-Palk Bay and Gulf of Mannar
• It is an “Isthmus” connecting two land masses – Rameswaram and Thalai Mannar islands under the sea.
• It is a unique curvilinear feature.
• It is nearly 17 Lakhs year old.
• It is a “Barrier Zone” that separates two contrasting seas- the shallow and turbid waters of Palk Bay from the deep and clear waters of Gulf of Mannar.
• It is a “Barrier / Protection Zone” against “Tsunami” impacts.
Due to theses reasons themselves, Rama Sethu can be declared as an “International Geographical Heritage Site” and protected.
20. Our studies also brought to light the accuracy and authenticity of Valmiki Ramayana in terms of Geographical and certain distinct Geological aspects.
The veracity of this historical narration is evident in Valmiki’s references to a number of places and natural features in the country such as rivers, hills, etc., are still extant especially in southern parts of Tamil Nadu. The references to “Ayamukha Paravatha from which the placid waters of Kaveri are seen” indicating the iron ore bearing Kanjamalai hills, south of Salem is so accurate in terms of Geography and Geology Similarly, the locales and descriptions of Agasthiyamalai, Thambrparani river, the rising Mahendra Giri Hill, Rameswaram and Gandahamana Paravatha are described in detail very accurately.
Valmiki’s descriptions of sea waves lashing against the foot hills of Mahendra Giri is supported by the reported occurrence of marine, fossiliferrous limestone in this area. It is to be noted that Mahendra Giri is at present far inland to the north of Nagercoil. Another interesting geological phenomena was described in the yuddha kanda of Valmikl Ramayana. When Rama requested the lord of sea to give way for his army to cross over to Srilanka and when the lord of sea did not appear in front of Sri Rama, Valimiki decribes that Sri Rama sent powerful arrows into the ocean. The entire earth trembled and large waves erupted followed by high heat and fire. It is very significant that this area is prone to earth quakes, high tidal waves and tsunami, and buried volcanoes. Valmiki also describes about certain floating stones that have been used for the construction of Rama’s bridge. In nature, two such stones namely, pumice (a volcanic rock) and non-silicifide coral rock will float in water. These rocks occur in the Adam’s Bridge and Gulf of Mannar areas All these geographical, geological features and phenomena cannot have come from the wild imagination of a poet sitting thousands of miles away in Ayodhiya. It is therefore, very clear that Ramayana is certainly a historical document supported by scientifical evidences
21. Astronomical evidences brought out recently by Pushkar Bhatnagar (Era of Rama, Ruba &CO, New Delhi) indicate that the age of Rama is around 7000 Before Present (BP). It is well known scientific fact that specific planetary positions will not repeat in millions of years. Using the planetorium software of NASA, Pushkar Bhatnagar recalibrated and recalculated the planetary positions described in Valmiki Ramayana during different events in Rama’s life, such as Rama’s birthday, the day before Rama’s initial Pattabhishegam, the killing of demons Kara–Dhushan, killing of Vali, meeting of Hanuman and Sita at Srilanka etc., the last three being eclipses. These determinations coincide very accurately with the periods of events described in Ramayana.
22. Our report on Rama Sethu also interprets the following from the bore hole data of NIOT. Below a zone of loose marine sand upto 7 to 9 m depth, a zone of boulders made up of calcareous sandstone and coral inter-layered with silt and sand is encountered between 9 to 20 m. Below 20 to 22 m another marine loose sand is encountered. Similar geological setup is also reported from certain publications on the Thalai Mannar side of Srilanka. Such type of boulder beds between loose sand layers cannot be formed either by natural marine processes or by river processes along the sea coast. As such these beds should be a man-made structure only.
23. To confirm such an interpretation, we have suggestedgeo-archaeological studies on the Rama Sethu / Adam’s bridge by large scale and deep pitting upto 25 m depth till the second loose sand zone is reached. Under-water video graphy and sampling of the four walls and the bottom at 50 cm interval for finding the composition, nature and age of the different formations are suggested. This will clearly establish the true nature of the Rama’s bridge.
SSCP illegalities and failures in geological planning
By K. Gopalakrishnan, Director (Retd.), Geological Survey of India (20 March 2008)
Geological planning is very essential. We have presented detailed technical paper for about 20 papers which have not been considered by thee committee. Another is Rama Sethu on scientific aspects. In this we have used geography, geology and scientific and Ramayana is historic and whatever wee have described is authentic. On the bridge constructed itself so that they are taking only what they are searching for is with reference to those investigators and the title of import itself. It is in the understanding substrata for understanding the project.
I want clear indication of how to approach the court and not scientic. The court understand is another thing as technically they have opted. It should be simplified and in easy language. We do not need to go to concrete details and court also will not be able to. So we will be describing in this committee of eminent persons by all Vice Chancellor that what we have observed about the nature, its consequences and specialize. Hence we will reserve to this because they are satisfied with all the factual basis.
When we read this report, this is also is about something else. They give detail reconstruction that is given by the other company which have referred , who appointed, how they gave this report , what was the reference to that. We do not know whether they oriented this towards this. There geological formation. Upto what extend is the geological formation is the most important question. What is the distance between ocean surface and the geological. For the top two to three metres you go loose sand. Anything that happens naturally by the course of events is called geological formation.
First thing is whether the bridge is man-made or natural formation. now we have to say that it is man-made and not natural. But we can establish this point only archeological survey.
So far as the present investigation that has been made, says that they admit that it is not possible to say unless a comprehensive geological survey is made and the outcome also they cannot predict. The purpose of this investigation is made to find whether any layer is naturally formed or artificial. The assertion on the report that there is nothing man-made is hypothetical and assumption so what are the reasons they give for he purpose say, we have to advert only to that.
So far as Gulf of Mannar is concerned depth goes upto 3000 metres and it is very deep. The sea is very calm and clear and cyclones do not cross them. The risk for that is Sethu bridge once you make 3,000 wide and so m uch deep, it will affected the Gulf of Mannar. They say it will not affect and nothing will happen and water will still remain calm and that would not affect anything. we have to clearly demonstrate that it is fully assumption and it is totally incorrect and the very fact is not fair.
Once the canal is cut on the Sethu, it will fall like a waterfall sediment. In the Gulf of Mannar area from the Rama Sethu, they say it is very steep. There is 4 meter steep which is not so steep but suddenly it goes down to 3000 metres. So this is the area and also prons and other things. Even NEERI has not clearly stated about this.
Bay of Bengal is cyclonic prone and it is a hybrid for fish potential. We have got high saline in the sea which nurtures lot of species. That is the most important thing. Which drafting reply we will emphasis this part alone in simple language, difference between the two seas, Gulf of Mannar and Palk Blair and distance between Arabian Sea. Wee will extract this statement also then come into this details and how ecology will be disturbed. They now taken the kilometer distance for his salinement. From the island, Gulf of Mannar is 20 kilometer. There are two islands. Why not it is 15 kilometeres? Answer is we cannot go beyond 15 kilometers because of International Maritime Boundary Line. Three things are breeding ground, slope in that area and breeding stretch. That is the only maximum distance we can go but that will be minimum towards the island is concerned.
Park Strait is a very shadow region and there once they cut the channel 10 metres depth and 200 metres deep, it will become part of Bay of Bengal. Therefore speed will affect the channel. Actually we are cutting Bay of Bengal also into Gulf of Mannar. What is the distance between Palk Strait and Rama Sethu? It is only 80 kms. It is nothing if the wave come in great speed then it will directly hit and Gulf of Mannar will be lost.
The North South statement about the alignment is also a false statement because they are talking only about the bottom portion and then they are talking about the sudden change in construction. East Coast is very shallow. You are giving no room for the big ship to manovar. 52 kilometres of work has already been completed.
In the documentation that Mr. Gopalakrishnan has placed in page 27, it has been declared as geological monument. This Thirumala map shows area and it comes under Geological Act. In Tamilnadu we have huge fossil which has been declared as geological monuments. You must stress on different regimes which has happened in the pathway and Gulf of Mannar with regard to geological, physical and Chemical formation and how by going through this channel we have personal regimes. The present alignment of North South or towards east which will also bring in some problems which will bring more of Palk Way and Gulf of Mannar to join. The monument is a reliable point which require some more expertise.
What are the breeding grounds? Wherever there is certain stagnation of water, they are best for breeding grounds. Rama Sethu area where ever the depth is less than 500 metres it is best for breedingt. Very important thing is corals. One of the reason that Mr. Balakrishnan say is sea should be clear, calm, light should be there and turbidity should not be there.
Bottom should be hard because it needs surface to hand on. So you cannot have an erosion. 100 metres will also hold good below that we cannot have. Water should also be minimum of 20oC
In Encyclopedia it is given that if water is very calm and quite, corals can be there and they also need clinging surface to hold on which should be hard. It cannot breed on sand.
Coral rock is not hard. It will break. It is very brittle, it cannot build on weight. People can walk on it but it cannot bare heavy weight. If it is along with calcareous sediment, the man can walk on coral rock and you can see it in Rameswaram.
As analysed this as a mariner. The basic thing mentioned in te official document is that it reduces sailing distance to some nauticle mailes. This reduction in voyage will lead to reduction in voyage of time. This reduction in the voyage of time means saving in feul which is translated in terms of cause effectiveness. This is the basic definition for SSCP project.
Path way area is a high risk area for cyclonic activity which is in October to January that is North East monsoon. The matter is that any cyclone or depression that comes near Nagapatnam is going to affect Sethu Samudiram, Gulf of Mannar and Pathway. More severe cyclone will influence the channel. If it crosses East Coast of India at 100 miles, Sethu Samudiram will be affected because winds speed is so high that excess of 100 kilometeres it will go into the Sethu Samudiram. It is the crux of the matter of tropical cyclone. So it is clear that any ship that travels through Sethu Samudiram will be more safe if it gois straight. Second the cyclonic activity is going to bring lot of sediment. It will empty itself in Sethu Samudiram effect you have to do maintaining for which little amount was allotted as 0.2 million per cubic metres.
Next aspect is with regard to sediment. Maritime terrorist is here to stay. It does exist and lot of conventional arms are going around in the world. One example is maritime terrorism. On October 2000, Alquida carried suicide attack on US canal, then French Limberg was attack in the same manner.
Sethu Samudiram is next to area of operation of LTTE and they have carried out enough and daring attack on suicide ships. Now they also have their air capability but we cannot say LTTE has lost in the war and we cannot say LTTE will not pose any threat.
Allied factors of Sethu Samudiram official website carry lots of false statements. It gives an impression as if Navy and Coast Guard are traveling on daily basis. Navy is of two types: eastern fleet that was established in Bangladesh war and Western fleet. These two meet probably only once in a year.
You need large sea area to manovar. We cannot forger about navy risk. Example Naval attack in Karachi, Turkey shoot. During war time no ship will be near the coast. Even their justification is not correct. This Sethu Samudiram Channel is not a open water way. This is a very important point. If I am at sea I can sail my ship in the way I want but in Sethu Samudiram it is not possible. This is a drawback because if any rubber boat carrying weapons comes on the way in the Sethu Samudiram Channal,the big ships cannot find it and even if they find out by luck, they will not be able to change the direction of the ship without being hit.
They say that 50% of saving. But 50% saving of what? 75% of internal rats return. Cant they be more specific?
Reference was made with regard to the article written by former deputy Chanel of Chennai port trust. The official website do not show what is the pilotage rate and what is the charge that you are going to levy. Even if we calculate the pilotage rate with regard to the Chennai Port it comes to 50 lakhs. They also till now do not know how much they are going to spend every ear for dredging and maintenance. The total cost of saving is only 7 lakhs if one travels through Sethu Samudiram Canal.
The savings in time is not commensurate with the savings in distance because of slow speed of travel through Sethu Samudiram because we have to change the speed slow from open sea to Sethu Samudiram. Example Eden to Chennai via Sethu samudiram is104. net savings is only 4 lakhs. Even if you charge 6 lakhs you are saving only marginal. The time saving is also only 19.2 hours but the website says it is 30-36 hours to maximum at this nautical speed.
They have mentioned about environment good like using LSHD diesel but the cost of lower sulphur high diesel is one and a half time higher than the high speed diesel. So the cost effective matter is wiped out.
What is the alternative? We can only close this project, cut your losses to minimum as it is not too late and close it without seeing any prestige.
The another matter that one should see is threat matrix. No major scientific study is available in the official report describing the construction of Sethu Samudiram Shipping Project. Reference was made with regard to the The NewsToday evening paper issue on 2nd Feb’08 to the article written by Sri. V. Sethuraman which states that this project is a threat to national security. This project is economic approach. But external cost of approach should have been brought which should have been taken into account.
LTTE ranks number one in all the marine terrorist according to Peter Lehar, who is a security analyst in St, Andrews University at Scotland. Reference was also made with regard to Arabindo Acharya and Nadika Prashardani Vidha in page 207 which states that LTTE has periodically hijacked the ship which is there is part VI. Next stress made with regard to the suicide operation by black sea tigers which is there in page 209.
Keezhakarai is a coastal populated area which is very near to Sethu Samudiram.
The Asian tribune in Srilankan paper had said that one third of Jaffana coast will submerge if Sethu Samudiram is done. Hence they have not consulted Geological survey, NIO also. This shows the competency of the members of not even knowing the outside concern. I don’t know whether it is accidental or deliberate. There was no mariner, not security expert no Biologist, etc.
More than 50 lakhs people depending on the marine fishing and their families are going to be affected. The country gets around 4000 million as export duty from fishery industry from Tamilnadu itself. This revenue will be affected because of this project.
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