Rama Setu: case in New York Supreme Court citing Sonia Gandhi and INC religious intolerance
1. Balagokulam
Bloomington kids mesmerize audience with Grand Ramayan Play
Published on June 12th, 2008
The great Indian epic Ramayan was presented by 60 kids from Bloomington - Normal, Illinois, USA with all fanfare and festivity on June 8 ,2008 at the prestigious Bloomington Center of Performing Arts (BCPA). This event was attended by more than 600 spectators who appreciated the talent and enthusiasm of kids enacting the scenes from this timeless epic. The occasion was the grand finale of "Kaun Banega Ramayan Expert" (KBRE) contest. This contest was organized simultaneously across towns in USA by Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh (HSS) . Preparation for the event extended over a period of three months. The kids ranged in age from 4 to 15. All the dialogs were in English while preserving the reverence and deep emotional fervor associated with Ramayan.The well choreographed enactment was interspersed with drama, songs & dances, war scenes and melodrama. This is the first time such a large revue on Ramayana was performed in Midwest America. The main objective of the event was to bring the spirit of Ramayan to every one in the community and lay the foundation of strong value oriented character among kids and adults. Mr. Shrinarayan Chandak (Vice President -HSS - Midwest region - USA, ) in his opening remarks dwelt on the significance of Shri Ram's message in our current life and times. He emphasized on how lessons from the Ramayan can help us become better leaders and generate lasting success in our social, business, corporate and political involvement. Mr. Saumitra Gokhale (North America HSS teacher) brought out significant and subtle relevance of being involved with Ramayan. Among others he also emphasized the valor of a bird called Jatayu in Ramayan who sacrifices his life fighting the powerful demon king Ravan. This episode reflects on the sheer conviction to fight for righteousness irrespective of strength. In another instance Lakshman decides to follow his elder brother, Shri Ram to the forest. Here the attachment and reverence of Lakshman was to the all noble and strong ideals of Shri Ram in addition to the unconditional love of a brother. Mr. Gokhale also stressed on how Ramayan is very relevant to our lives in spite being set in a very ancient time. The scenes from Ramayan that got enacted included 'Balakand', 'Vidyabhyas at Vishwamitra's gurukul', 'Sita Swamyavar', 'Ram Vanvas', ' Sita Apharan', 'Lanka Dahan', 'Setu Bandhan', 'Lakshman Indrajit yudh', 'Hanuman Sanjivani', 'Kumbhakaran yudh', 'Ram Ravan yudh', 'return of Shri Ram to Ayodhya' and 'Shri Ram Pattabhishekam'. The extravagant show was appreciated by all in the community. The evening concluded by handing over of prizes to the winners of the KBRE competition which included online and in-person Ramayan quizzes, painting on Ramayan themes, story telling and elocution.The contest was preceded by narrating Ramayan stories to kids in the community. The documentary on the ceremonious enactment of Ramayan in various cultures across the world from Siberia to Indonesia and from Myanmar, Thailand, Singapore and beyond brought in focus the global hues in celebrating the glory and values of Shri Ram. An informative documentary on the resources available to the kids in the community through 'Balagokulam' – a Sunday school on divine Hindu morals, scriptures and inspirations was also presented. The HSS Bloomington chapter has been successfully conducting 'Balagokulam' for kids for quite sometime now. The evening of celebration left the kids and the audience ecstatic with divine joy commonly associated with Ramayan.
http://hssusa.indiainteracts.com/2008/06/12/bloomington-kids-mesmerize-audience-with-grand-ramayan-play/
2. Case in New York Supreme Court citing Sonia Gandhi and INC religious intolerance
A historic case is being fought in the Supreme Court in the State of New York, USA. It is a libel suit by INOC Inc. against Narain Kataria, Arish Sahani and others. One of the issues raised relates to the involvement of Congress Party and its chief, Sonia Gandhi in destroying Rama Setu.
This case has implications for the ongoing struggle to protect the world heritage, Rama Setu.
Congress Party `has shown religious intolerance towards 900 million Hindus by blowing up Rama Sethu, an ancient Hindu heritage monument. This is similar to Taliban blowing up the Bamyan Buddhas'. One of the charges which will be framed in due course is a charge that Sonia Gandhi and her Congress Party had denigrated Hindu dharma by showing intolerance to Hindu religion.
The discovery process will reveal the role played by Sonia Gandhi in showing this religious intolerance towards 900 million Hindus by blowing up Rama Setu.
Cultural and the Customary Rites of the Hindus would be violated by the Setu Project
as Ram Setu is claimed by hindus to be their teerthasthaanam, a place of pilgrimage, where over 5 lakhs people gather every year on Ashadha amavaasya day to offer tarpanam remembering the ancestors (pitrus), led by Sri Rama: Sri Rama rama rameti vyapohati nasams’ayah is part of the samkalpa delineating the time and space of the prayers offered.
The destruction of Ram Setu by the Project will cause irreparable damage to the religious sentiments of Hindus as Ram Setu is considered as a holy place for performing religious ceremonies and oblations which is mentioned in various Puranas and Valmiki Ramayana. A duty is also cast upon every citizen of the nation to protect Rama Setu by the order of Shri Rama as Veda Vyaasa notes in the Mahabharata of the tradition in Mahabharata times: Ramasyaajnaam puraskritya dhaaryate girisannibhaah (By Rama’s orders, we are protecting the Setu).
Ram Setu is a sacred object for Hindus within the meaning of Section 295 of Indian Penal Code, and any action destroying, damaging or defiling the said sacred object will insult the religious feelings of Hindus under section 295 of Indian Penal Code.
In AIR 1958 SC 1032 at para. 7; p.1035, Supreme Court held: “Any object however trivial or destitute of real value in itself, if regarded as sacred by any class of persons would come within the meaning of the penal section” [ i.e., Section 295 IPC which penalizes any destruction, damage or defilement of any object held as sacred by any This Court further held in that matter that: “ Courts have to be very circumspect in such matters, and to pay due regard to the feelings and religious emotions of different classes of persons with different beliefs, irrespective of the consideration whether or not they share those beliefs, or whether they are rational or otherwise, in the opinion of the court”. By their actions, the Party led by Sonia Gandhi have shown utter disregard for the feelings and emotions of Hindus who venerate and perform pujas at Rama Setu which is a pre-eminent tirthasthaanam in Hindu tradition from time immemorial.
It will be exposed during the discovery process of the ongoing trial in New York that Sonia Gandhi has participated in this process and hence, will be liable under Sec. 295 and also for violation of Articles 48A, 49, 51A of the Constitution of India.
Article 48A of the Constitution casts the duty on the State to protect and improve the environment and to safeguard the forests and wild life of the country.
Article 49 of the Constitution casts a duty on the State to protect monuments or place or objects of artistic or historic interest from spoliation disfigurement destruction, removal, disposal or export as the case maybe.
Fundamental duties cast upon every citizen of India under Article 51A . 1) Article 51A (f) to value and preserve the rich heritage of our composite culture; 2) Article 51A (g) to protect and improve the national environment including forests, lakes, rivers and wild life and to have compassion towards living creatures. 3) Article 51A (h) to develop scientific temper, humanism and spirit of enquiry and reform 51A (i) is to safeguard public property and to abjure violence
During the discovery process, the Attorneys for Narain Kataria and Arish Sahani will surely call for documents on Sonia Gandhi’s involvement, if any (since she is the acknowledged leader of the UPA government in India), in the processes related to the filing of affidavits in the Supreme Court of India on the Public Interest Litigation petitions pending in this latter court.
One of the aspects of the discovery will be on the role of Sonia Gandhi and INC in the attempt to blow up Rama Setu as brought out in the following submissions to the Supreme Court on 31 August 2007:
The injunction orders to stop any work on Rama Setu were passed by Supreme Court on 31.8.07 and again on 14.9.07 after hearing both parties—Dr. Subramanian Swamy, the Petitioner and the Respondents. The prima facie validity of the case of the Petitioner was fully argued and the Respondents made every effort to rebut it but to no avail. It was also argued by the Petitioner that the injunction was urgently necessary because he had credible reports that the Respondent was proposing the present a fait accompli by using explosives to cut through the Rama Setu since the dredging operations had failed and the ship dredgers were seriously damaged. There were also media reports in respected news dailies, but were not contradicted by the Respondents. Moreover, neither these reports nor the averments of this Petitioner were denied by the Respondents even after the Court repeatedly asked the Respondents to make a declaration in court that they had no such intention. Detonating explosives on the Rama Setu would have been irreversible act of profound consequence, and a sacrilege that would have caused grave public disorder. It would have erased the cause of action of my Petition which has been admitted by the Court for a full hearing and appropriate disposal.
There were news reports (just prior to the filing of the affidavit by Govt. of India in February 2008 in Supreme Court), which said that Hon’ble Minister for Culture wanted more time to conduct archaeological investigations according to standard international norms to declare Rama Setu as a monument of National importance under the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, 1958 and as World Heritage under UN Law of Sea Convention, 1982. the UNESCO conventions on World Heritage and Underwater Cultural Heritage, to which India is a signatory. UNESCO is already considering submissions made to declare Rama Setu and Gulf of Mannar marine bioreserve as a World Heritage.
These reports were later negated when the Secretary of the Ministry of Shipping filed an affidavit on behalf of Union of India in the Supreme Court passing the buck to the Court stating that the State has no clue on how to conduct such a study.
Para 84 of the GOI’s response in the Supreme Court on February 29, 2008, contains an extraordinary submission and admission of the Respondents. It is stated therein (re: the contention of the Petitioners) as follows: “….in particular relating to archaeological, historical and cultural aspects. They have also made presentations in this regard before the Committee of Eminent Persons. It is submitted that archaeological investigations/studies have to be carried out as per established procedures and certain national/international principles, guidelines and legislation. Since no archaeological studies have been conducted, it is not possible to predicate the outcome in the event such investigations are carried out [emphasis added].”
“The Union of India is of the belief that it should not be called upon to respond to issues of faith, except in recognizing their existence”.[ref: COUNTER AFFIDAVIT para.88;p.59].
In the sworn written submission on behalf of the Union of India [UOI], the Additional Solicitor had on September 14, 2007 given to this Hon’ble Court two assurances which was expected to be honoured in the revised and new counter affidavit that the Respondent UOI would subsequently file. The withdrawn affidavit contained averments that hurt the religious and cultural sentiments of the people of India. The withdrawn affidavit had questioned the historicity and religious significance of Shri Rama, Ramayana and the Rama Setu. However these assurances have not been honoured in this new counter affidavit filed on February 29, 2008 almost six months later, despite the Respondent, viz., the Ministry of Shipping’s awareness of the same.
Did Sonia Gandhi authorize the averments made in the withdrawn affidavit (Sept. 14, 2007 after the chakka-jam of Sept. 12, 2007) denying Shri Rama and thus, did she intend to hurt the sentiments of a billion Hindus, by denigrating the very identity of the Hindu civilization and the integrity and unity of the nation governed by this vigrahavaan dharma – the very personification of dharma? Did she desire to desecrate Rama Setu, admittedly worshipped by millions of persons of a large number of creeds? [ref: APPLICATION OF UNION OF INDIA IN I.A. NO.1 of 2007, para. 7; p.24]
The earlier counter affidavit of the Respondent UOI had to be withdrawn when remarks of the non-existence of Sri Rama in the text led to great public indignation and protests. Most prominent and respected Hindu religious leaders came out of their religious seminaries and strongly objected. Hence, by doing or not doing, the Respondents could put public order at risk. Hence the Respondents in the case of Rama Setu must respond appropriately to issues of faith when such matters arise from government policy. This has been the practice in the past.
In the famous Shah Bano case, the Union of India was not called upon by this Hon’ble Court to respond to issue of faith in amending personal law of Muslims. Yet a Bill was enacted into law by the Parliament to in effect nullify this Hon’ble Court’s earlier judgment.
In the Delhi Metro Rail AIIMS-Qutab Minar Corridor construction, the Union of India intervened after an issue of faith was raised against the Corridor alignment by some Islamic NGOs. They contended that the overhead alignment proposed in the Detailed Project Report of the Rs.2358 crore project could threaten the Qutab Minar and some en route tombs by the vibrations of the Metro Rail service, and hence wanted the Alignment changed. The Union of India then directed the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation to change the Alignment despite the project’s work being in full swing. At an additional cost of Rs 400 crores, the Corporation changed the chosen Alignment to meet the demands of faith [ref: ANNEXURE P-12 ] and re-worked a new underground Alignment.
The Rama Setu desecration matter, besides it being violative of Article 49 of the Constitution, the statutory provisions of the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites & Remains Act(1958), and the Indian Penal Code]Section 295], the demolition or damaging of the Rama Setu will have cataclysmic and profound consequences for the secular and public order of Indian society. It is well settled by case laws that Supreme Court may then intervene in such cases to judicially review the decision-making process so as not to allow injury to the public because of dereliction of constitutional and statutory obligations and duties on part of the Respondent.
Moreover, what to do, or not to do, so as to promote economic development while respecting issues of faith is a very important question that impinges importantly on Constitutional law and that requires urgent judicial determination by a Constitutional Bench of this Hon’ble Court. In the United States, the Religious Freedom Restoration Act[RFRA] holds that the Federal government may not “substantially burden a person’s exercise of religion” in pursuing economic interests. On March 12, 2007, the three judge bench of the 9th US Circuit Court of Appeals, in a celebrated case set aside the clearance granted to an Arizona State ski resort vide the Final Environmental Impact Statement under the National Environment Policy Act. The ski resort’s plan, as cleared, was for use of treated sewage effluent of a small tourist destination city called Flagstaff, to make artificial snow and spread it on the slopes of a mountain held sacred by native American tribes. The case pitted 13 native American tribes such as Navajos, Apaches etc., who claimed hurt to their religious beliefs versus local economic interests of skiing tourism. The Court unanimously held that the clearance violated the RFRA and hence should cancelled.
The preferential treatment accorded to those observing Islamic faith and consistent efforts to destroy Rama Setu clearly demonstrate the anti-Hindu sentiments of the Party led by Sonia Gandhi.
Excerpts from the affidavit filed by Kornstein Veisz Wexler & Pollard, LP, New York, the Attorneys for Narain Kataria and Arish Sahani, in the libel case filed against them by INOC Inc. in the Supreme Court in the State of New York, USA.
Statements about the Indian National Congress Party …2.The ad allegedly accuses the Indian National Congress Party of `religious intolerance similar to the Taliban'. (INOC's Amended Complaint 31 18)'.
Here once again the amended complaint in New York Supreme Court distorts rather than quotes. The ad never says that the Congress Party has shown `religious intolerance similar to the Taliban'. Instead it makes the very different statement that the party `has shown religious intolerance towards 900 million Hindus by blowing up Rama Sethu, an ancient Hindu heritage monument. This is similar to Taliban blowing up the Bamyan Buddhas'. INOC does not, and cannot, deny that the Congress Party supported the removal of Rama Sethu, a site that many Hindus consider as very sacred, a belief that goes back to the dawn of history. The ad's opinion that this act showed religious intolerance and was similar to the Taliban's destruction of a Buddhist monument is fully protected opinion.
…`This politically motivated libel action (by INOC Inc.) should be barred at the threshold. The statements at issue are not `of and concerning' the plaintiff. As a matter of constitutional law, they were not made with `actual malice'. They are, moreover, either true, free of defamatory meaning, protected opinion or permissible hyperbole. Dismissal, now, at the start of this litigation, is amply justified and absolutely necessary, lest a bad precedent breed more such misguided libel cases. Early dismissal becomes even more essential when one considers the political context of this case. At bottom, this is a case about a U.S. subsidiary of a powerful political party in a large foreign country attempting to use our Courts to silence and intimidate its American critics in America. This is not only unacceptable; it is intolerable. We as a people have completely rejected the notion that a political party can `use the courts to destroy political opponents'. [United States v. Helstoski, 442 U.S. 477, 493 (1979)]'.
Dr. Babu Suseelan cited at http://newstodaynet.com/col.php?section=20&catid=33 : `The Congress Party has failed miserably in defending our borders, Hindus, Hindu culture, or to do anything more than protecting their own narrow political interests. As a party, the Congress has reduced its mind and heart to the level of intellectual and moral bankruptcy, outright dishonesty, corruption, ineptitude, nepotism, and inefficiency. These immoral practices have become the fallback mode of the Congress leaders. In the name of pseudo secularism, Congress moral relativists, atheists, and agnostics want to appease Muslims and want to overturn traditional Hindu culture and moral values. Now the Congress Party headed by the Italian Catholic Sonia is devising new cunning schemes to restrict our liberties. For several years, Hindu organizations around the world had exposed Congress leaders' despicable behavior and corrupt practices. It is about time Indians realize Sonia Gandhi is a `plant' by European Christian politics whose aim is to expand Christianity in India. From Hindu religious beliefs Christianity is not a religion in the true sense but a disguised politics of power. These people will kill, murder and annihilate any existing community to further their fanatical goals'.
Wednesday, June 11, 2008
Tuesday, June 10, 2008
Setu like a cyclotron accumulating thorium, making India a nuclear resource zone
Setu like a cyclotron accumulating thorium, making India a nuclear resource zone
It is now common knowledge that beach sands are being exported and that these sands contain strategic metals: thorium, titanium. Thorium is strategic for the nation’s nuclear programme; titanium is strategic for the nation’s space programme. These strategic metals should NOT be allowed to be exported in any form or formulation and retained as nation’s reserves for nation’s integrity and energy independence. It is also reliably learnt (Hon’ble Pon. Radhakrishnan ji) that thorium from IREL’s stockpiles is also vanishing. Kalyanaraman 24 August 2007
Strategic metals and resources of India Jayaram’s article on thorium placers is also confirmed by US Geological Survey at http://minerals.usgs.gov/minerals/pubs/commodity/thorium/thorimcs07.pdf
See: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thorium See also: http://kalyan97.wordpress.com/2007/08/25/thorium-strategic-nuclear-fuel-of-india/
Don’t you think that this world’s weath should be safeguarded? Who is in charge for the security of this world’s wealth, nation’s wealth? Kalyanaraman
RSS gives Sethu a nuke twist
‘Sethu’s Like A Cyclotron Accumulating Thorium’
Girish Kuber MUMBAI (Economic Times, Bangalore, Page 3)
RASHTRIYA Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) has found more credible reasons to oppose the Centre’s controversial Ram Setu project. The Sangh has pointed out that the project will severely impact the country’s nuclear programme and undersea mineral resources.
Giving a scientific twist to its stance against the demolition of Ram Setu (Adam’s bridge) under the Sethusamudram Shipping Canal Project (SSCP), the Sangha has cautioned that rich deposits of Thorium, considered important for energy independence, would be disturbed if the Ram Setu is destroyed.
The Rs 2,300 crore SSCP has been mired in controversy ever since it was inaugurated by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in July 2005. The decision to destroy the Rama Setu, the ancient bridge between India and Sri Lanka, as the Sangh claims, is against India’s heritage, religious sentiments, environment and the poor farmers of Tamil Nadu.
Former international banker Dr S Kalyanaraman, who is currently spearheading Sangh’s mission to enlighten people on the project, in a detailed presentation to a select group of mediamen harped on country’s energy security vis-a-vis the project. He referred to various studies that have reported precious mineral deposits including that of thorium on a coastline close to Ram Setu. A large deposit of titanium too has been found in the region around the sethu.
Although uranium is the only naturally occurring fissile element directly usable in a nuclear reactor, India has just about 0.8% of the world’s uranium reserves and as such is dependent on import. But it’s been proved beyond doubt that thorium can replace uranium.
Why should we jeopardise these thorium deposits,” he asked. According to official data, India has around 3,00,000 tonnes of thorium reserves — third largest in the world — in the beach sands of Manavalakurichi in Tamil Nadu, Aluva and Chavara in Kerala and Chatrapura in Orissa. “These deposits are waiting to be tapped. The setu acts like a cyclotron accumulating placer deposits. This natural system will be destroyed if the project is implemented,” Dr Kalyanaraman said.
http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Repository/getimage.dll?path=ETBG/2008/06/02/3/Img/Pg003.png (Page 3, 2 June 2008 ET Bangalore edition)
It is now common knowledge that beach sands are being exported and that these sands contain strategic metals: thorium, titanium. Thorium is strategic for the nation’s nuclear programme; titanium is strategic for the nation’s space programme. These strategic metals should NOT be allowed to be exported in any form or formulation and retained as nation’s reserves for nation’s integrity and energy independence. It is also reliably learnt (Hon’ble Pon. Radhakrishnan ji) that thorium from IREL’s stockpiles is also vanishing. Kalyanaraman 24 August 2007
Strategic metals and resources of India Jayaram’s article on thorium placers is also confirmed by US Geological Survey at http://minerals.usgs.gov/minerals/pubs/commodity/thorium/thorimcs07.pdf
See: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thorium See also: http://kalyan97.wordpress.com/2007/08/25/thorium-strategic-nuclear-fuel-of-india/
Don’t you think that this world’s weath should be safeguarded? Who is in charge for the security of this world’s wealth, nation’s wealth? Kalyanaraman
RSS gives Sethu a nuke twist
‘Sethu’s Like A Cyclotron Accumulating Thorium’
Girish Kuber MUMBAI (Economic Times, Bangalore, Page 3)
RASHTRIYA Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) has found more credible reasons to oppose the Centre’s controversial Ram Setu project. The Sangh has pointed out that the project will severely impact the country’s nuclear programme and undersea mineral resources.
Giving a scientific twist to its stance against the demolition of Ram Setu (Adam’s bridge) under the Sethusamudram Shipping Canal Project (SSCP), the Sangha has cautioned that rich deposits of Thorium, considered important for energy independence, would be disturbed if the Ram Setu is destroyed.
The Rs 2,300 crore SSCP has been mired in controversy ever since it was inaugurated by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in July 2005. The decision to destroy the Rama Setu, the ancient bridge between India and Sri Lanka, as the Sangh claims, is against India’s heritage, religious sentiments, environment and the poor farmers of Tamil Nadu.
Former international banker Dr S Kalyanaraman, who is currently spearheading Sangh’s mission to enlighten people on the project, in a detailed presentation to a select group of mediamen harped on country’s energy security vis-a-vis the project. He referred to various studies that have reported precious mineral deposits including that of thorium on a coastline close to Ram Setu. A large deposit of titanium too has been found in the region around the sethu.
Although uranium is the only naturally occurring fissile element directly usable in a nuclear reactor, India has just about 0.8% of the world’s uranium reserves and as such is dependent on import. But it’s been proved beyond doubt that thorium can replace uranium.
Why should we jeopardise these thorium deposits,” he asked. According to official data, India has around 3,00,000 tonnes of thorium reserves — third largest in the world — in the beach sands of Manavalakurichi in Tamil Nadu, Aluva and Chavara in Kerala and Chatrapura in Orissa. “These deposits are waiting to be tapped. The setu acts like a cyclotron accumulating placer deposits. This natural system will be destroyed if the project is implemented,” Dr Kalyanaraman said.
http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Repository/getimage.dll?path=ETBG/2008/06/02/3/Img/Pg003.png (Page 3, 2 June 2008 ET Bangalore edition)
Setu project: a white elephant, an ecological-social disaster, being falsely foisted as a dream project.
Setu project: a white elephant, an ecological-social disaster, being falsely foisted as a dream project.
Thanks to Capt. Balakrishna and to Sudarshan Rodriguez for their incisive analyses.
Executive Summary: Setu project is a white elephant, an ecological disaster, and is being foisted as a dream project without involving detailed studies using the expertise of Geological Survey of India (GSI) and National Institute of Oceanography (Goa), without consulting the local pollution control, maritime boards, without consulting the neighbouring country under international treaty obligations, ignoring international treaty obligations related to UN Law of the Sea, UNESCO World Heritage and Underwater Cultural Heritage Conventions. Above all, there is a cognizable criminal offence involved by violating Section 295 of the Indian Penal Code which prohibits the hurting of sentiments of a community.
It is shocking that a fundamental question remains unanswered: for whose benefit is this project? How will it benefit the coastal people? Has an alternative of Marine Economic Zones along the long 8000 km. of the nation been evaluated which has the potential to increase marine product export foreign exchange earnings from the present Rs. 8000 crores per annum to Rs. 40000 crores per annum?
Scrap the project. Don't ever dream such project disasters.
The project zone is Rama’s hotspot with mannar volcanic rocks and hotsprings all along the coastline and is close to the most fragile eco-system – the Sunda plate which is subject to almost daily earthquakes and which scientists (Nature magazine 6 Sept. 2007) have noted as a potential disaster zone which will adversely impact 6 crore coastal people from Kolkata to Kerala by a more devastating tsunami than the one which occurred on Dec. 26, 2004 killing 2,60,000 people. How could any rational government have conceived a project and inaugurated it on 2 July 2005 (that is within 6 months of the tsunami) without a detailed evaluation of the impact of the Dec. 2004 tsunami on the bathymetry of the ocean and without providing for tsunami protection measures to save the nation’s coastal property and peoples’ lives? How could anyone approve of a project which 34 Sri Lankan experts claim will impact adversely the drinking water supply to Rameshwaram and Jaffna if the fresh-water bearing limestone caves in Rama Setu are blasted off? Do we have a socially responsible governance or not?
The detailed project report prepared by the consultants for Setusamudram Corporation is an UNRELIABLE, document, based on computational errors, erroneous/biased assumptions and is intended only as a make-believe exercise, a pathetic attempt in economic casuistry. The project economics presented in the DPR is simply bogus. Capt. Balakrishnan conclusively proved that the project is nautical folly.
In addition to social costs which are excluded from the computations of economic viability, the following costs are also either excluded or grossly understated: 1. additional security costs which will devolve on the Indian Navy to acquire, for example, special anit-mine-warfare vessels which can traverse through a shallow channel in narrow straits (which may be of the order of Rs. 3000 crores); 2. costs to the neighbouring country, Sri Lanka, very close (3 kms. proximity) to the channel; 3. maintenance dredging costs in one of the five sedimentation sinks of the world constituting the Gulf of Mannar-Palk Straits; 4. costs of facilities which are an imperative, for salvage operations in case a ship gets grounded in the shallow sands; 5. failure to estimate the number of ships which will be less than 30,000 dwt (dead-weight-tonnes) and which will be phased out during the next 10 years since the trend is to build large-tonnage ships going upto 1 million dwt.; 6. losses which will be suffered by coastal people due to denial of access to about 26% of the ocean zone – the breeding zone for marine products and fish nurseries -- in Gulf of Mannar-Palk Straits by creating a veritable international boundary channel 3 kms. west of the Indi-Sri Lanka medial line (considering that the distance between Dhanushkodi and the Medial Line is only 15 kms.); 7. failure to include provisions/facilities for tsunami-cyclone protection to safeguard the integrity of the nation’s coastline.
SSCP will be a perpetual sick unit. The claim that Setusamudram Corp. Ltd. (SCL) will be financially self-sustaining is thus questionable. No sensible banker will lend money to such an entity. It will be a tax-payer’s burden for the foreseeable future.
First year Loss: Rs. 54 crores
(3055 passages/year X Rs.1.78 lakhs, i.e. Tariff of Rs. 3.89 lakhs minus Rs. 2.11 lakhs fuel and cost savings per passage of a ship);
9th year Loss: Rs. 143 crores
(3055 passages/year X Rs. 4.68 lakhs, i.e. Tariff of Rs. 6.79 lakhs minus Rs. 2.11 lakhs fuel and cost savings per passage of a ship).
There are hidden costs which have not been included; if included, the sickness of SCL will become chronic: a) Capital and maintenance costs for Naval security of the channel; b) Maintenance dredging costs may be as high as Rs. 1000 crores per annum; c) Provisions of tsunami protection walls as in Japan to save lives and property along the coastline; d) social costs such as loss of livelihood for coastal people dependent upon fisheries and marketing of marine products.
Dr. S. Kalyanaraman
Special Investigation June 15, 2008
An expert analysis of Sethu project
The howlers in the expert committee report on SSCP
By Captain (Retd) H. Balakrishnan, I.N.
During the course of my analysis of the Report submitted by the ‘Committee of Eminent Persons’, I found that the Report faulted the ‘Detailed Project Report (DPR), prepared by the Consultants to the Project—M/s L&T Thornboll. Yet, Cabinet sanction for the SSCP was accorded on the basis of the DPR!! This left me wondering—‘What sanctity for Cabinet approvals, if the ‘due process of application of mind’ is conspicuous by its absence?
Report of ‘the committee of eminent persons’ finds fault with the DPR
Chapter-8: “Economic Viability And Related Issues”
Para 8.2.3 (pp –96)
“Hence, it may not be fair to pick up a few developments selectively and object to the viability of the Project, which was worked out sometime ago. As regards the comments made on the approach and assumptions adopted in the DPR, the main argument against the DPR rests on the distance that will be saved by ships that are coming from Europe, America, Persian Gulf and Africa (using Suez Canal). While the DPR takes the savings in distance from Cape Comorin, it has been argued that these ships need not come right up to Cape Comorin to go around Sri Lanka. This observation is valid as the ships coming from Europe, America, Africa etc. need not come to Cape Comorin for going around Sri Lanka. To that extent the savings in distance, particularly for non-coastal cargo, will be less.”
Para 8.2.6 (pp – 97)
“It is clear from this Table that there is hardly any saving for a ship coming via Port Louis (Mauritius) to the east coast ports. Hence, the point made that the ships coming from Mauritius using Cape of Good Hope route will not use the Channel is valid. However, the consultants have also not identified the ships coming via Mauritius in any of the five origin – destination pairs identified for the SSC (Table 6.10 of the DPR). It is seen that the difference in distance saved by the ships coming from Suez Canal to the east coast ports as obtained from the Chief Hydrographer and the one given by the Consultants in DPR is only 19 NM. The Consultants in DPR have taken the Channel length as 152 km for calculation of savings in fuel and savings in time charters whereas, the actual Channel length in DPR is 167.22 km. These differences, in Channel length and savings in distance, will have some impact on the savings of the ships.”
Para 8.2.7 (pp – 98)
The second argument is that the Consultants have taken the average distance saved instead of calculating the savings in distance for each ship journey. It is seen from the distances in the DPR that the distance saved varies from 254 NM to 424 NM. With this variation in distance, taking a simple average of 335.5 NM may not reveal the correct picture. It is seen as per the traffic statement for SSC in DPR (Table 6-11 page 158 of DPR), there is no coastal movement between Chennai and Tuiticorin, where the distance saved is maximum. However, the possibility of cargo movement between these ports exists, when the coastal shipping picks up. Most of the revenue is coming from non-coastal cargo. The average distance saved from Aden to different ports on east coast, excluding Tuiticorin, as per the distances obtained from Chief Hydrographer is 271 NM. The Consultants may have taken average distance so as to determine uniform Channel Charges for all routes; nevertheless, it would have been better if the Consultants had calculated the distance saved for each pair for estimating savings of ships and then recommend a tariff rate. The approach followed by the Consultants to propose tariff @ 75 per cent of savings in one of the alternatives, may result in a scenario where the Channel charges may be higher than the savings. As the tariff @ 50 per cent of savings has been proposed, in the base case IRR, such a situation has been avoided. However, the savings to some ships will be more than 50 per cent while for some it will be lower.”
Para 8.2.8 (pp – 98)
“It is, however, worthwhile to mention that the average distance taken (142 NM) in the Report captioned “Review of the Environmental and Economic Aspects of the Sethusamudram Ship Channel Project (SSCP)” is the average of ships taking the Suez route as well as the Mauritius route. This is also not relevant because the DPR does not envisage the ships moving via Cape of Good Hope and Mauritius as potential traffic for SSC. However, the Consultants have not explained how the ships coming from Africa other than Suez route, have not been taken into account while identifying SSC cargo from Africa. Similarly, the Consultants have not clarified how crude oil vessels and inter-port movements within east coast ports, have been excluded.”
Para 8.2.13 (pp – 100)
“ As regards speed of vessels, the Consultants have assumed that the ships will move at an average speed of 12 NM in open sea and 8 NM in the restricted channel. There are some apprehensions about the speed at which ships can move in a regulated channel. - - - - - -. Based on the impression gathered by the Members from the mariners, it is felt that an average speed of 6 to 8 NM in the proposed Channel is not an unreasonable assumption.”
Para 8.2.14 (pp – 100)
“The proposed Channel is a double lane Channel. The Consultants have recommended a double lane Channel as reducing it to a single lane would have enhanced the waiting period. This could have also been backed by a financial analysis.”
Para 8.2.15 (pp –100)
“The Consultants have estimated revenues escalating @ five per cent per annum. The revenues come mainly from the Channel charges. The charges are linked to savings in fuel cost and savings in charter costs. Hence, the increase in revenue is related to the increase in charter and bunker prices. The basis for estimating the escalation of five per cent per annum in revenue and costs has not been spelt out. The Consultants have also made no mention of the social cost.”
Para 8.2.16 (pp-100)
“The Consultants have taken 2001-02 as base for port-wise and commodity-wise forecast for next 20 years. The Consultants have taken average parcel load of previous three years from 1999-00 to 2001-02 as the basis to estimate the number of potential ships for the Channel in the next 20 years. Again, the Consultants have taken the DWT wise break up of vessels calling at east coast ports (excluding Tuiticorin) in 2001-02 as the basis to estimate the size-wise number of ships likely to use the Channel. The Committee feels that the Consultants should have taken into account the trend or other developments that may change the inter-se share in future.”
Chapter 6: Environment And Related Issues
“Issue 5: Impact of Cyclones on the Project and also on sedimentation dynamics”
Para 6.4.13 (pp – 77)
(A Howler!!!)
“It appears that all the ports on the coast will be vulnerable and not only the SSCP. Necessary safeguards to deal with cyclone condition have been incorporated in the Project design.”
(Comment: As young mariners, we are taught in the Navigation School, about the dangers posed by the ‘Tropical Revolving Storms’ (Cyclones) and the precautions and actions to be taken at sea to ‘avoid’ these ‘Cyclones’. These are highlighted in the Admiralty publication “The Mariner’s Handbook”. But, this is the FIRST TIME, I’m learning about ‘necessary precautions’ taken to safeguard a ‘static entity’ called the SSCP’!! Should be in the reckoning for the Nobel Prize in ‘SCIENCE’!!)
“Issue 7: Impact of sulphur in the fuel on environment”
Para 6.4.20 (pp – 79)
“The emission of SO2 due to burning of fuel in ship is considered as a line source. The ships have been recommended to use low sulphur fuel. The emissions envisaged will be low and impact of these emissions on the Marine National Park which is 20 km away from the Channel, considering the dispersion and dilution potential available due to sea wind, is not envisaged”.
(Comment: The use of Low Sulphur High Speed Diesel (LSHSD) by ships will affect the fuel savings costs as LSHSD is nearly 1.5 times costlier than HSD. The difference in rates between HSD and LSHSD can be clearly seen on the website www.bunkerworld.com)
(The writer can be contacted at “Athreya”A1/8-flat-5 22nd Cross Street Besantnagar, Chennai-600 090)
http://www.organiser.org/dynamic/modules.php?name=Content&pa=showpage&pid=241&page=13
http://setubandha.blogspot.com/2008/05/analysing-economic-viability-of-sscp.html
Analysing the economic viability of the SSCP from a shipping perspective on the basis of official reports – Part 7 by Capt. (Retd.) H. Balakrishnan, I.N.
Introduction
1. Over the past year (2007), much has been written and stated, in the media, about the viability or otherwise, of the SSCP. The statements have also highlighted the economic benefits that would accrue to the Southern districts of Tamil Nadu on account of the SSCP.
2. This paper analyses the economic viability of the SSCP, from a shipping perspective, on the basis of information contained in various 'official documents' and reports such as:
(a) The website of the Sethusamudram Corporation Ltd. (SCL)
(b) The 'Report' submitted by the 'Committee of Eminent Persons' to the Govt. of India. This 'Report had formed the basis of the revised affidavit filed in the Supreme Court, by the Govt. of India.
(c) The 'Information Memorandum of Sept. 2005' prepared by the then UTI Bank (now Axis Bank), the lead Bank for arranging the financial loan for the execution of the Project.
Economic viability of the SSCP
SCL Website
3. The website, in addition to highlighting various USPs of the project, states: "Sethusamudram Ship Channel Project, which envisages digging a ship channel across the Palk Straits between India and Sri Lanka, is finally taking shape. The project will allow ships sailing between the East and West Coasts of India to have a straight passage through India's territorial waters, instead of having to circumvent Sri Lanka. This will lead to a saving of upto 424 nautical miles (780 kms) and upto 30 hours in sailing time." It further states: "The project will become self-sustaining over a period of time. According to conservative estimates, about 3055 vessels will be using the canal annually. This will inevitably go up further."
4. The foregoing statement in the website implies that the SSCP is envisaged as a profitable undertaking which would lead to its self-sustenance in the years ahead.
Information Memorandum of the UTI Bank (now Axis Bank)
5. From this document, the annual expenditure for the SCL can be calculated. The main items forming this expenditure are summarized below.
6. Operation and Maintenance Costs (O&M Costs). From item 10.2 of the 'Information Memorandum', the budgeted figures for the O&M costs are as follows:
(a)Maintenance Costs
(Rs. in millions)
-- Maintenance of Vessel traffic Management Scheme (VTMS) 50
-- Maintenance dredging 200
(Note: For the 3rd and 4th year Maintenance Dredging has been
pegged at Rs. 170 million and from the 5th year onwards it
stabilizes at Rs. 140 million)
-- Civil Maintenance 10
-- Tugs and launches 100
-- Plant and Machinery 10
(b) Operation costs
-- Administration and staff costs 50
--VTMS 8.5
--Tugs and Launches 68
-- Plant and Machinery 20
(d) Contingency and Project Management costs
-- Contingencies 25.8
(Note: For the 3rd and 4th year, this has been pegged at
Rs. 24.3 million. From the 5th year onwards, it stabilizes at
Rs. 22.8 million).
7. Details of the financial loan. From Item 14 of the Information Memorandum, entitled 'Indicative Term Sheet,' the following are the details of the financial loan:--
(a) Rupee loan
-- Amount Rs. 4369 million
-- Interest rate 8%
-- Loan period 13 years
-- Moratorium period 5 years
-- Principal repayment 16 'equal installments' from the end of 5 years
(b) US Dollar loan
-- Amount USD 100 milion
-- Interest rate Libor + 125 to 175 basis points = 5%
-- Loan period 20 years
-- Moratorium period 8 years
-- Principal repayment 24 'equal installments' from the end of 8 years
(c) Zero coupon bonds
-- Amount Rs. 5826 million
-- Interest rate NIL
-- Loan period 30 years
-- Moratorium period 18 years
- Principal repayment 12 'annual instalments' beginning from the end of 18 years
8. Profitability. A profit margin of 9% has been assumed for the project to build reserves.
9. Thus, the 'Income to be generated' by the SCL to become a self-sustaining undertaking, on an annual basis, is tabulated at Appendix A. The Zero Coupon Bonds have not been taken into account for the purposes of this analysis.
10. Ship tariff. As the SCL website anticipates an annual shipping traffic of 3055 ships to pass through the SSCP, the possible tariff to be levied on individual ships has been calculated and tabulated at Appendix A.
Time and fuel cost savings
11. The Report submitted by the 'Committee of Eminent Persons' (Chapter 8, para 8.2.5), gives the voyage distances between the ports of 'Origin' and 'Destination'. The voyage speeds in the 'open sea' as also through the 'SSCP' have been given in this Report (Chapter 8, para 8.2.13).
12. On the basis of the foregoing, the following have been tabulated: (a) Fuel cost savings—Appendix B; (b) Time savings –-Appendix C
Analysis of the Appendices
13. The Report by the 'Committee of Eminent Persons', in Chapter 8, Para 8.2.7 states: "The approach followed by the consultants to propose tariff @ 75% of savings in one of the alternatives, may result in a scenario where the channel charges may be higher than the savings. As the tariff rate @50% of savings has been proposed, in the base case I.R.R., such a situation has been avoided. However, the savings to some ships will be more than 50%, while for some, it will be lower."
14. In the light of the foregoing, comparison of the possible tariff to be levied on individual ships as calculated at Appendix A, and 50% the Fuel Cost Savings at Appendix B (column 'q'), will clearly reveal that the SCL will NOT be able to recover its expenditure burden in the FIRST YEAR OF OPERATION ITSELF.
15. On the other hand, if the SCL decides on a higher tariff regime, as in the case of the major ports of India (e.g. Chennai Port Rs. 1.11 lakh/km for 7 kms of 'pilotage'), then the fuel cost savings achieved by navigating through the SSCP, will be nullified for the shipping companies.
16. The 'Time Savings' tabulation at Appendix C debunks the claim of the SCL website of 'Savings upto 30 hours in sailing time'. The same is the case in 'Savings in Voyage distances' also.
17. Cost escalation. A report in the economics daily 'MINT' of 25 Sept. 2007, entitled 'Money runs dry for Sethusamudram', stated the cost of the project has 'Skyrocketed to at least 4000 crores, interest rates have crawled higher and old loan terms have lapsed.' In a word, higher tariff regime for ships other than indicated at Appendix A.
Conclusion
18. In my earlier 6 Part analysis of the SSCP, I had concluded that the 'SSCP just does not make any nautical sense.'
19. The present analysis, on the basis of official reports, has only served to reinforce the earlier conclusion.
20. The SSCP is a nautical folly.
Appendices:
(A) Income Generatin and Possible ship Tariff
(B) Fuel Cost Savings
(C) Time Savings
References:
(1) Sethusamudram Corporation Ltd. Website URL: www.sethusamudram.gov.in
(2) Report by the 'Committee of Eminent Persons'
(3) Informatin Memorandum of the UTI Bank (Axis Bank) URL: http://sethusamudram.gov.in/Images/InfoMemo.doc
Appendix A SSCP – Income Generation and Ship Tariff
(Rs. in Lakhs); US $ = Rs. 39.79
Year/item 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
Rupee loan interest 3495.2 3495.2 3495.2 3495.2 3495.2 3495.2 3495.2 3495.2 3495.2
Rupee loan principal 5461.25 5461.25 5461.25 5461.25
US $ loan interest 1989.5 1989.5 1989.5 1989.5 1989.5 1989.5 1989.5 1989.5 1989.5
US $ loan
principal 3315.83
O&M 5423.0 5423.0 5108.0 5108.0 4793.0 4793.0 4793.0 4793.0 4793.0
9% profit 981.69 981.69 953.34 953.34 924.99 1416.5 1416.5 1416.5 1714.93
TOTAL 11889.39 11889.39 11546.04 11546.04 11202.69 17155.40 17155.40 17155.40 20769.71
TARIFF
(Total / 3055) 3.89 3.89 3.78 3.78 3.66 5.61 5.61 5.61 6.79
Appendix B SSCP Voyages: Fuel Costs and Savings
(Open sea speed = 12 knots; SSCP speed = 6 knots)
Voyage From Voyage To Voyage Fuel Cost (Around Srilanka) Voyage Vuel Cost (Via SSCP) Savings Rs.
Aden Chennai 64,26,744.3 60,04,222.8 4.22,521.5
Aden Vizag 70,53,937.8 67,63,501.8 2,90,436.0
Aden Kolkata 78,47,019.3 76,63,104.0 1,83,915.3
Kochi Chennai 22,36,933.0 18,04,469.6
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If SSP Corporationis chronically sick,it may not matter much to Baalu. The Government will not become bankrupt overnight! Much less, the longevity of Baaly in politis is limited, He is simply making hay while sun shines! For the opportunists and self seekers like Baa;u. the arguments of Dr. Kalyanaram, though most sensible, may not mean much to Baalu
M.Srinivaan
--- On Sat, 3/5/08, kalyan97 wrote:
From: kalyan97
Subject: [Branded Indian] Analysing the economic viability of the SSCP -- Capt. (Retd) H. Balakrishnan, I.N.
To:
Date: Saturday, 3 May, 2008, 5:11 PM
http://setubandha. blogspot. com/2008/ 05/analysing- economic- viability- of-sscp.html
Analysing the economic viability of the SSCP from a shipping perspective on the basis of official reports – Part 7 by Capt. (Retd.) H. Balakrishnan, I.N.
Introduction
1. Over the past year (2007), much has been written and stated, in the media, about the viability or otherwise, of the SSCP. The statements have also highlighted the economic benefits that would accrue to the Southern districts of Tamil Nadu on account of the SSCP.
2. This paper analyses the economic viability of the SSCP, from a shipping perspective, on the basis of information contained in various 'official documents' and reports such as:
(a) The website of the Sethusamudram Corporation Ltd. (SCL)
(b) The 'Report' submitted by the 'Committee of Eminent Persons' to the Govt. of India. This 'Report had formed the basis of the revised affidavit filed in the Supreme Court, by the Govt. of India.
(c) The 'Information Memorandum of Sept. 2005' prepared by the then UTI Bank (now Axis Bank), the lead Bank for arranging the financial loan for the execution of the Project.
Economic viability of the SSCP
SCL Website
3. The website, in addition to highlighting various USPs of the project, states: "Sethusamudram Ship Channel Project, which envisages digging a ship channel across the Palk Straits between India and Sri Lanka, is finally taking shape. The project will allow ships sailing between the East and West Coasts of India to have a straight passage through India's territorial waters, instead of having to circumvent Sri Lanka. This will lead to a saving of upto 424 nautical miles (780 kms) and upto 30 hours in sailing time." It further states: "The project will become self-sustaining over a period of time. According to conservative estimates, about 3055 vessels will be using the canal annually.. This will inevitably go up further."
4. The foregoing statement in the website implies that the SSCP is envisaged as a profitable undertaking which would lead to its self-sustenance in the years ahead.
Information Memorandum of the UTI Bank (now Axis Bank)
5. From this document, the annual expenditure for the SCL can be calculated. The main items forming this expenditure are summarized below.
6. Operation and Maintenance Costs (O&M Costs). From item 10.2 of the 'Information Memorandum', the budgeted figures for the O&M costs are as follows:
(a)Maintenance Costs
(Rs. in millions)
-- Maintenance of Vessel traffic Management Scheme (VTMS) 50
-- Maintenance dredging 200
(Note: For the 3rd and 4th year Maintenance Dredging has been
pegged at Rs. 170 million and from the 5th year onwards it
stabilizes at Rs. 140 million)
-- Civil Maintenance 10
-- Tugs and launches 100
-- Plant and Machinery 10
(b) Operation costs
-- Administration and staff costs 50
--VTMS 8.5
--Tugs and Launches 68
-- Plant and Machinery 20
(d) Contingency and Project Management costs
-- Contingencies 25.8
(Note: For the 3rd and 4th year, this has been pegged at
Rs. 24.3 million. From the 5th year onwards, it stabilizes at
Rs. 22.8 million).
7. Details of the financial loan. From Item 14 of the Information Memorandum, entitled 'Indicative Term Sheet,' the following are the details of the financial loan:--
(a) Rupee loan
-- Amount Rs. 4369 million
-- Interest rate 8%
-- Loan period 13 years
-- Moratorium period 5 years
-- Principal repayment 16 'equal installments' from the end of 5 years
(b) US Dollar loan
-- Amount USD 100 milion
-- Interest rate Libor + 125 to 175 basis points = 5%
-- Loan period 20 years
-- Moratorium period 8 years
-- Principal repayment 24 'equal installments' from the end of 8 years
(c) Zero coupon bonds
-- Amount Rs. 5826 million
-- Interest rate NIL
-- Loan period 30 years
-- Moratorium period 18 years
- Principal repayment 12 'annual instalments' beginning from the end of 18 years
8. Profitability.. A profit margin of 9% has been assumed for the project to build reserves.
9. Thus, the 'Income to be generated' by the SCL to become a self-sustaining undertaking, on an annual basis, is tabulated at Appendix A. The Zero Coupon Bonds have not been taken into account for the purposes of this analysis.
10. Ship tariff. As the SCL website anticipates an annual shipping traffic of 3055 ships to pass through the SSCP, the possible tariff to be levied on individual ships has been calculated and tabulated at Appendix A.
Time and fuel cost savings
11. The Report submitted by the 'Committee of Eminent Persons' (Chapter 8, para 8.2.5), gives the voyage distances between the ports of 'Origin' and 'Destination' . The voyage speeds in the 'open sea' as also through the 'SSCP' have been given in this Report (Chapter 8, para 8.2.13).
12. On the basis of the foregoing, the following have been tabulated: (a) Fuel cost savings—Appendix B; (b) Time savings –-Appendix C
Analysis of the Appendices
13. The Report by the 'Committee of Eminent Persons', in Chapter 8, Para 8.2.7 states: "The approach followed by the consultants to propose tariff @ 75% of savings in one of the alternatives, may result in a scenario where the channel charges may be higher than the savings. As the tariff rate @50% of savings has been proposed, in the base case I.R.R., such a situation has been avoided. However, the savings to some ships will be more than 50%, while for some, it will be lower."
14. In the light of the foregoing, comparison of the possible tariff to be levied on individual ships as calculated at Appendix A, and 50% the Fuel Cost Savings at Appendix B (column 'q'), will clearly reveal that the SCL will NOT be able to recover its expenditure burden in the FIRST YEAR OF OPERATION ITSELF.
15. On the other hand, if the SCL decides on a higher tariff regime, as in the case of the major ports of India (e.g. Chennai Port Rs. 1.11 lakh/km for 7 kms of 'pilotage'), then the fuel cost savings achieved by navigating through the SSCP, will be nullified for the shipping companies.
16. The 'Time Savings' tabulation at Appendix C debunks the claim of the SCL website of 'Savings upto 30 hours in sailing time'. The same is the case in 'Savings in Voyage distances' also.
17. Cost escalation. A report in the economics daily 'MINT' of 25 Sept. 2007, entitled 'Money runs dry for Sethusamudram' , stated the cost of the project has 'Skyrocketed to at least 4000 crores, interest rates have crawled higher and old loan terms have lapsed.' In a word, higher tariff regime for ships other than indicated at Appendix A.
Conclusion
18. In my earlier 6 Part analysis of the SSCP, I had concluded that the 'SSCP just does not make any nautical sense.'
19. The present analysis, on the basis of official reports, has only served to reinforce the earlier conclusion.
20. The SSCP is a nautical folly.
Appendices:
(A) Income Generatin and Possible ship Tariff
(B) Fuel Cost Savings
(C) Time Savings
References:
(1) Sethusamudram Corporation Ltd. Website URL: www.sethusamudram. gov.in
(2) Report by the 'Committee of Eminent Persons'
(3) Informatin Memorandum of the UTI Bank (Axis Bank) URL: http://sethusamudra m.gov.in/ Images/InfoMemo. doc
- Show quoted text -
Appendix A SSCP – Income Generation and Ship Tariff
(Rs. in Lakhs); US $ = Rs. 39.79
Year/item 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
Rupee loan interest 3495.2 3495.2 3495.2 3495.2 3495.2 3495.2 3495.2 3495.2 3495.2
Rupee loan principal 5461.25 5461.25 5461.25 5461.25
US $ loan interest 1989.5 1989.5 1989.5 1989.5 1989.5 1989.5 1989.5 1989.5 1989.5
US $ loan
principal 3315.83
O&M 5423.0 5423.0 5108.0 5108.0 4793.0 4793.0 4793.0 4793.0 4793.0
9% profit 981.69 981.69 953.34 953.34 924.99 1416.5 1416.5 1416.5 1714.93
TOTAL 11889.39 11889.39 11546.04 11546.04 11202.69 17155.40 17155.40 17155.40 20769.71
TARIFF
(Total / 3055) 3.89 3.89 3.78 3.78 3.66 5.61 5.61 5.61 6.79
Appendix B SSCP Voyages: Fuel Costs and Savings
(Open sea speed = 12 knots; SSCP speed = 6 knots)
- Show quoted text -
Voyage From Voyage To Voyage Fuel Cost (Around Srilanka) Voyage Vuel Cost (Via SSCP) Savings Rs.
Aden Chennai 64,26,744.3 60,04,222.8 4.22,521.5
Aden Vizag 70,53,937.8 67,63,501.8 2,90,436.0
Aden Kolkata 78,47,019.3 76,63,104.0 1,83,915.3
- Show quoted text -
Kochi Chennai 22,36,933.0 18,04,469.6 4,32,403.4
Kochi Paradeep 33,25,715.9 31,29,586.2 1,96,129.7
Kochi Kolkata 36,57,208.1 34,59,090.0 1,98,118.1
Tuticorin Vizag 24,71,278.5 19,56,439.0 5,14,839.5
Tuticorin Kolkata 32,66,634.8 28,56,893.0 4,09,741.4
Notes
(A) The distance and speeds used for the calculations have been obtained from the 'Report' submitted by 'The Committee of Eminent Persons'
(B) The Indian Oil Corporation tariffs effective from 1 March 2008 for various marine fuels per metric tonne (Mt) are as follows:
(i) High Speed Diesel (HSD) for use in the SSCP = Rs. 27,384 + 23.43% VAT = Rs. 33,800/Mt
(ii) Heavy Oil (H.O.) for use in the Open Sea = Rs. 27,313 + 4% VAT = Rs. 28,405.5/Mt
(C) The average fuel consumption has been taken as 1 Mt per hour
(D) These calculations do NOT take into account the 'Pilotage Rates' that are going to be levied for using the SSCP
(E) Based on current Pilotage Rates being levied at Major Ports in India, it is probable that circumnavigating Sri Lanka would be more cost-effective.
Appendix C SSCP Time Savings for voyages
(Open sea speed = 12 knots; SSCP speed = 6 knots)
Voyage From Voyage To Voyage distance around Sri Lanka (km) Voyage distance via SSCP (km) Voyage Time around Sri Lanka Voyage Time via SSCP Savings in Time (Hours)
Aden Chennai 2715 2380 226.25 206.96 19.2
Aden Vizag 2980 2700 248.33 233.63 14.7
Aden Kolkata 3315 3080 276.25 265.3 10.9
Kochi Chennai 945 605 78.75 59 19.7
Kochi Paradeep 1405 1165 117.08 105.71 11.37
Kochi Kolkata 1545 1305 128.75 117.3 11.45
Tuticorin Vizag 1045 670 87 64.4 22.6
Tuticorin Kolkata 1380 1050
June 15, 2008
Sethu project
A mockery of science, conservation and environmental laws
By Sudarshan Rodriguez
It is beyond doubt that the Sethusamudram project will have disastrous consequences for the region’s biodiversity.
UNCOMFORTABLE QUESTIONS: Dredging activity will result in the killing of species protected under the Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.
The religio-political controversy and public debate surrounding the Sethusamudram Ship Canal Project (SSCP) have overshadowed the original arguments raised against this project, namely its environmental, economic and social impacts.
Ecological significance
Part of the project area, specifically Adam’s Bridge, falls within the Gulf of Mannar Biosphere Reserve (GOMBR). It is India’s largest biosphere reserve and has an area of 10,500 sq km, covering the “Indian part of Gulf of Mannar between India and Sri Lanka.” It is one of India’s major coral reef ecosystems with 3,600 species of flora and fauna, of which 377 are endemic. It is famous for its chanks (conches and other shells) which make Rameswaram one of the world’s largest shell trade and craft centres. The 21 islands that constitute the core zone of the GOMBR form the Gulf of Mannar Marine National Park, which is India’s second marine national park. UNESCO’s Biosphere Reserve concept is based on the idea of oneness of humanity transcending national frontiers and recognises the need for conservation of vanishing species and habitats. The canal at Adam’s Bridge is a mere 20 km from Shingle Island, one of these 21 islands. With the completion of the SSCP, ships will be navigating through the biosphere reserve and close to the park.
The other part where most of the capital dredging is planned in the Palk Bay, which is also ecologically sensitive and has extensive sea grass meadows. Sea grasses serve as nurseries for fish stocks, and are essential grazing areas for turtles and dugongs (also known as the sea cow: a highly endangered species on the verge of extinction).
Rohan Arthur, an ecologist and a leading expert on sea grasses and corals with the Nature Conservation Foundation, is of the view that “the importance of the sea grass meadows of the Palk Bay and Gulf of Mannar cannot be overstated, as they are a conservation hotspot of regional and global relevance.” (from Review of the Environmental and Economic Aspects of the Sethusamudram Ship Canal Project by Sudarshan Rodriguez, Jacob John, Rohan Arthur, Kartik Shanker and Aarthi Sridhar.)
Impact of dredging
The Palk Bay, known for its unusually high sedimentation rate, is one of the five permanent sediment sinks of India, that is, sediments are constantly being deposited in the Palk Bay and Palk Strait. The sediment sink and transport mechanism in the region are yet to be fully understood. Strangely, all the project documents summarily ignore important knowledge of sedimentation, and the bibliography stops at 1989 while some of the key papers were published in the late 1990s and since 2000. Dredging Adam’s Bridge along a 300-metre wide stretch to make the canal passage will have drastic consequences for marine ecosystems in the Palk Bay and the Gulf of Mannar.
It will be akin to opening the floodgates of a dam and will allow sediments from the Palk Bay to flow freely into the Gulf of Mannar, thus affecting the corals and fisheries in the Marine National Park and the whole biosphere reserve. Both sea grasses and corals are sensitive to increases in sediment levels. “The changed sediment conditions have a range of effects on corals and sea grasses, affecting their basic physiology, reproduction, recruitment, population and community structure,” says Rohan Arthur in Review of the Environmental and Economic Aspects of the Sethusamudram Ship Canal Project (cited above).
Loss of wildlife
The project directly results in loss of wildlife, specifically protected species. This is evident from its own documents (Section 1.3 and 3.2 of the Environmental Impact Assessment prepared by NEERI) which acknowledges the presence of corals, sea fans, sponges, pearl oysters, chanks and sea cucumbers along the canal. The EIA (Section 6.4.1.2 and 6.6) report states: “Due to dredging, the bottom flora and fauna on an area of about 6 sq km along the channel alignment in Adam’s Bridge and about 16-17 sq km in Palk Bay/Palk Strait area will be lost permanently.” Thus, the dredging activity for the canal will result in the killing of corals, sea fans, sponges, and sea cucumbers, all of which are protected species under the Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.
In fact, corals are Schedule I species, which means the government accords it the same protected status as a tiger. It is shocking that this aspect is being overlooked. According to the proponents of the project, it is an acceptable price to pay.
Environmental laws
The EIA did not have a dredging management programme. This is also pointed out in the L&T-Ramboll Detail Project Report (DPR) of the SSCP, which recommends that this be done (L&T-Ramboll DPR, Section 12.9.2 on page 12-11, bullet point 2). The EIA of the project also did not have a Disaster Management Plan (DMP), a mandatory legal requirement. (Under Form A, Item 11 of the EIA notification, 1994 and the Ministry of Environment and Forest’s EIA Manual).
Till date there is no DMP for the project and the project authorities have stated on various occasions that the Tuticorin Port Trust’s (TPT) DMP would be applicable for the project. The TPT’s DMP was developed only for the functioning of the Tuticorin port, where ships navigated in the southern Gulf of Mannar (around Kanyakumari) to Tuticorin and not further through the Adam’s Bridge and the Palk Bay.
Many experts have pointed out severe shortcomings in the project’s documents and design in terms of data gaps with respect to basic parameters such as sub-surface geology, bathymetry, and sedimentation process in the project area. These have resulted in the poor design of the project and inadequate assessment of risks, hazards and environmental impacts. It is beyond doubt that it will have disastrous consequences for the region’s biodiversity, causing major and permanent losses to fisheries and livelihoods.
The government needs to answer some uncomfortable questions on why it ignored its own conservation and environment laws. The relegation of the above-mentioned environmental arguments against the SSCP, and the lack of scientific rigour in the design and EIA of the project, represent a mockery of science, conservation and environmental laws.
(The writer is a Senior Research Associate at the Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment (ATREE). He can be contacted at sudarshanr@yahoo.com)
http://www.organiser.org/dynamic/modules.php?name=Content&pa=showpage&pid=241&page=14
History, ecology are at stake
From The Pioneer Edit Desk on June 12th
When the Taliban destroyed the Bamiyan statues, the world reacted with shocked horror at this act of barbarism. What the UPA Government in India proposes to do to Ram Setu, also known as Adam’s Bridge, is no less horrifying. As may be recalled, the Setusamudram Ship Channel Project aims to create a navigable sea route, between the Gulf of Mannar and Palk Bay, by slicing the Ram Setu in order to reduce the sailing distance between India’s coasts. Consequently, the Ram Setu, of known spiritual significance to Hindus, will be destroyed through extensive dredging. In fact, there are sound reasons for rejecting the project, as conceived at present, other than the important one of protecting the site for its cultural and religious worth. Among them, what are weighty are the objections that pertain to its wide-ranging environmental impact. For instance, experts have claimed shifts in the flows of currents would adversely affect sensitive ecosystems, as would the increasing possibility of damaging oil spills. It is estimated that fragile marine life, such as delicate corals, would be destroyed through the various processes unleashed. Life on the mainland would not remain unaffected as changes in seawater flows and temperature would impact climate and affect rainfall in coastal areas even as erosion could increase. Most importantly, experts inform us, the Ram Setu forms a barrier that blocks tsunamis, in the absence of which the entire coasts of Kerala and Tamil Nadu could be endangered. Were this not reason enough, Thorium deposits in Kerala and Tamil Nadu may be affected, upsetting India’s indigenous nuclear programme. It is significant that the Sir Mudaliar Committee Report of 1956 had recommended the abandonment of the idea of such a project, finding the channel alignment unsuitable.
The argument about the spiritual significance of the site is no less compelling. It is neither here nor there to argue that there is little scientific evidence to prove that Adam’s Bridge is manmade. For, within each spiritual tradition are matters purely of belief for which no rational explanations or scientific proofs are available. Thus Christians believe in the immaculate conception, the Jews that the Red Sea parted for Moses, and Muslims that Islam was revealed to the Prophet through the divine agency of Angel Gabriel. The Hindu belief that Hanuman’s vanar sena built a bridge to Lanka that allowed Ram to cross over, fell Ravana and rescue Sita is in a similar vein and should hardly be scoffed at. The historicity of the event has little relevance to the debate, though it is possible that, as Indians were prone to oral narratives rather than written records, facts are likely to be the basis of the Ramayan. As the sentiments of hundreds of millions of people are involved, these cannot be trumped by the views of an individual Minister in a democracy. Nothing explains the unholy hurry in going ahead with the project except the need to pander to the crassest financial interests.
Editor’s addendum: S Badrinarayanan, former director of Geological Survey of India and a member of the National Institute of Ocean Technology (NIOT) says the Adam’s Bridge was not a natural formation. “Such a natural formation is impossible. Unless somebody has transported them and dumped them there, those reefs could not have come there. Some boulders were so light that they could float on water. Apparently, whoever has done it, has identified light (but strong) boulders to make it easy for transportation. Since they are strong, they can withstand a lot of weight. It should be preserved as a national monument,” he opined.
http://www.hinduyuva.org/tattva-blog/2007/07/save-ram-setu/
Thanks to Capt. Balakrishna and to Sudarshan Rodriguez for their incisive analyses.
Executive Summary: Setu project is a white elephant, an ecological disaster, and is being foisted as a dream project without involving detailed studies using the expertise of Geological Survey of India (GSI) and National Institute of Oceanography (Goa), without consulting the local pollution control, maritime boards, without consulting the neighbouring country under international treaty obligations, ignoring international treaty obligations related to UN Law of the Sea, UNESCO World Heritage and Underwater Cultural Heritage Conventions. Above all, there is a cognizable criminal offence involved by violating Section 295 of the Indian Penal Code which prohibits the hurting of sentiments of a community.
It is shocking that a fundamental question remains unanswered: for whose benefit is this project? How will it benefit the coastal people? Has an alternative of Marine Economic Zones along the long 8000 km. of the nation been evaluated which has the potential to increase marine product export foreign exchange earnings from the present Rs. 8000 crores per annum to Rs. 40000 crores per annum?
Scrap the project. Don't ever dream such project disasters.
The project zone is Rama’s hotspot with mannar volcanic rocks and hotsprings all along the coastline and is close to the most fragile eco-system – the Sunda plate which is subject to almost daily earthquakes and which scientists (Nature magazine 6 Sept. 2007) have noted as a potential disaster zone which will adversely impact 6 crore coastal people from Kolkata to Kerala by a more devastating tsunami than the one which occurred on Dec. 26, 2004 killing 2,60,000 people. How could any rational government have conceived a project and inaugurated it on 2 July 2005 (that is within 6 months of the tsunami) without a detailed evaluation of the impact of the Dec. 2004 tsunami on the bathymetry of the ocean and without providing for tsunami protection measures to save the nation’s coastal property and peoples’ lives? How could anyone approve of a project which 34 Sri Lankan experts claim will impact adversely the drinking water supply to Rameshwaram and Jaffna if the fresh-water bearing limestone caves in Rama Setu are blasted off? Do we have a socially responsible governance or not?
The detailed project report prepared by the consultants for Setusamudram Corporation is an UNRELIABLE, document, based on computational errors, erroneous/biased assumptions and is intended only as a make-believe exercise, a pathetic attempt in economic casuistry. The project economics presented in the DPR is simply bogus. Capt. Balakrishnan conclusively proved that the project is nautical folly.
In addition to social costs which are excluded from the computations of economic viability, the following costs are also either excluded or grossly understated: 1. additional security costs which will devolve on the Indian Navy to acquire, for example, special anit-mine-warfare vessels which can traverse through a shallow channel in narrow straits (which may be of the order of Rs. 3000 crores); 2. costs to the neighbouring country, Sri Lanka, very close (3 kms. proximity) to the channel; 3. maintenance dredging costs in one of the five sedimentation sinks of the world constituting the Gulf of Mannar-Palk Straits; 4. costs of facilities which are an imperative, for salvage operations in case a ship gets grounded in the shallow sands; 5. failure to estimate the number of ships which will be less than 30,000 dwt (dead-weight-tonnes) and which will be phased out during the next 10 years since the trend is to build large-tonnage ships going upto 1 million dwt.; 6. losses which will be suffered by coastal people due to denial of access to about 26% of the ocean zone – the breeding zone for marine products and fish nurseries -- in Gulf of Mannar-Palk Straits by creating a veritable international boundary channel 3 kms. west of the Indi-Sri Lanka medial line (considering that the distance between Dhanushkodi and the Medial Line is only 15 kms.); 7. failure to include provisions/facilities for tsunami-cyclone protection to safeguard the integrity of the nation’s coastline.
SSCP will be a perpetual sick unit. The claim that Setusamudram Corp. Ltd. (SCL) will be financially self-sustaining is thus questionable. No sensible banker will lend money to such an entity. It will be a tax-payer’s burden for the foreseeable future.
First year Loss: Rs. 54 crores
(3055 passages/year X Rs.1.78 lakhs, i.e. Tariff of Rs. 3.89 lakhs minus Rs. 2.11 lakhs fuel and cost savings per passage of a ship);
9th year Loss: Rs. 143 crores
(3055 passages/year X Rs. 4.68 lakhs, i.e. Tariff of Rs. 6.79 lakhs minus Rs. 2.11 lakhs fuel and cost savings per passage of a ship).
There are hidden costs which have not been included; if included, the sickness of SCL will become chronic: a) Capital and maintenance costs for Naval security of the channel; b) Maintenance dredging costs may be as high as Rs. 1000 crores per annum; c) Provisions of tsunami protection walls as in Japan to save lives and property along the coastline; d) social costs such as loss of livelihood for coastal people dependent upon fisheries and marketing of marine products.
Dr. S. Kalyanaraman
Special Investigation June 15, 2008
An expert analysis of Sethu project
The howlers in the expert committee report on SSCP
By Captain (Retd) H. Balakrishnan, I.N.
During the course of my analysis of the Report submitted by the ‘Committee of Eminent Persons’, I found that the Report faulted the ‘Detailed Project Report (DPR), prepared by the Consultants to the Project—M/s L&T Thornboll. Yet, Cabinet sanction for the SSCP was accorded on the basis of the DPR!! This left me wondering—‘What sanctity for Cabinet approvals, if the ‘due process of application of mind’ is conspicuous by its absence?
Report of ‘the committee of eminent persons’ finds fault with the DPR
Chapter-8: “Economic Viability And Related Issues”
Para 8.2.3 (pp –96)
“Hence, it may not be fair to pick up a few developments selectively and object to the viability of the Project, which was worked out sometime ago. As regards the comments made on the approach and assumptions adopted in the DPR, the main argument against the DPR rests on the distance that will be saved by ships that are coming from Europe, America, Persian Gulf and Africa (using Suez Canal). While the DPR takes the savings in distance from Cape Comorin, it has been argued that these ships need not come right up to Cape Comorin to go around Sri Lanka. This observation is valid as the ships coming from Europe, America, Africa etc. need not come to Cape Comorin for going around Sri Lanka. To that extent the savings in distance, particularly for non-coastal cargo, will be less.”
Para 8.2.6 (pp – 97)
“It is clear from this Table that there is hardly any saving for a ship coming via Port Louis (Mauritius) to the east coast ports. Hence, the point made that the ships coming from Mauritius using Cape of Good Hope route will not use the Channel is valid. However, the consultants have also not identified the ships coming via Mauritius in any of the five origin – destination pairs identified for the SSC (Table 6.10 of the DPR). It is seen that the difference in distance saved by the ships coming from Suez Canal to the east coast ports as obtained from the Chief Hydrographer and the one given by the Consultants in DPR is only 19 NM. The Consultants in DPR have taken the Channel length as 152 km for calculation of savings in fuel and savings in time charters whereas, the actual Channel length in DPR is 167.22 km. These differences, in Channel length and savings in distance, will have some impact on the savings of the ships.”
Para 8.2.7 (pp – 98)
The second argument is that the Consultants have taken the average distance saved instead of calculating the savings in distance for each ship journey. It is seen from the distances in the DPR that the distance saved varies from 254 NM to 424 NM. With this variation in distance, taking a simple average of 335.5 NM may not reveal the correct picture. It is seen as per the traffic statement for SSC in DPR (Table 6-11 page 158 of DPR), there is no coastal movement between Chennai and Tuiticorin, where the distance saved is maximum. However, the possibility of cargo movement between these ports exists, when the coastal shipping picks up. Most of the revenue is coming from non-coastal cargo. The average distance saved from Aden to different ports on east coast, excluding Tuiticorin, as per the distances obtained from Chief Hydrographer is 271 NM. The Consultants may have taken average distance so as to determine uniform Channel Charges for all routes; nevertheless, it would have been better if the Consultants had calculated the distance saved for each pair for estimating savings of ships and then recommend a tariff rate. The approach followed by the Consultants to propose tariff @ 75 per cent of savings in one of the alternatives, may result in a scenario where the Channel charges may be higher than the savings. As the tariff @ 50 per cent of savings has been proposed, in the base case IRR, such a situation has been avoided. However, the savings to some ships will be more than 50 per cent while for some it will be lower.”
Para 8.2.8 (pp – 98)
“It is, however, worthwhile to mention that the average distance taken (142 NM) in the Report captioned “Review of the Environmental and Economic Aspects of the Sethusamudram Ship Channel Project (SSCP)” is the average of ships taking the Suez route as well as the Mauritius route. This is also not relevant because the DPR does not envisage the ships moving via Cape of Good Hope and Mauritius as potential traffic for SSC. However, the Consultants have not explained how the ships coming from Africa other than Suez route, have not been taken into account while identifying SSC cargo from Africa. Similarly, the Consultants have not clarified how crude oil vessels and inter-port movements within east coast ports, have been excluded.”
Para 8.2.13 (pp – 100)
“ As regards speed of vessels, the Consultants have assumed that the ships will move at an average speed of 12 NM in open sea and 8 NM in the restricted channel. There are some apprehensions about the speed at which ships can move in a regulated channel. - - - - - -. Based on the impression gathered by the Members from the mariners, it is felt that an average speed of 6 to 8 NM in the proposed Channel is not an unreasonable assumption.”
Para 8.2.14 (pp – 100)
“The proposed Channel is a double lane Channel. The Consultants have recommended a double lane Channel as reducing it to a single lane would have enhanced the waiting period. This could have also been backed by a financial analysis.”
Para 8.2.15 (pp –100)
“The Consultants have estimated revenues escalating @ five per cent per annum. The revenues come mainly from the Channel charges. The charges are linked to savings in fuel cost and savings in charter costs. Hence, the increase in revenue is related to the increase in charter and bunker prices. The basis for estimating the escalation of five per cent per annum in revenue and costs has not been spelt out. The Consultants have also made no mention of the social cost.”
Para 8.2.16 (pp-100)
“The Consultants have taken 2001-02 as base for port-wise and commodity-wise forecast for next 20 years. The Consultants have taken average parcel load of previous three years from 1999-00 to 2001-02 as the basis to estimate the number of potential ships for the Channel in the next 20 years. Again, the Consultants have taken the DWT wise break up of vessels calling at east coast ports (excluding Tuiticorin) in 2001-02 as the basis to estimate the size-wise number of ships likely to use the Channel. The Committee feels that the Consultants should have taken into account the trend or other developments that may change the inter-se share in future.”
Chapter 6: Environment And Related Issues
“Issue 5: Impact of Cyclones on the Project and also on sedimentation dynamics”
Para 6.4.13 (pp – 77)
(A Howler!!!)
“It appears that all the ports on the coast will be vulnerable and not only the SSCP. Necessary safeguards to deal with cyclone condition have been incorporated in the Project design.”
(Comment: As young mariners, we are taught in the Navigation School, about the dangers posed by the ‘Tropical Revolving Storms’ (Cyclones) and the precautions and actions to be taken at sea to ‘avoid’ these ‘Cyclones’. These are highlighted in the Admiralty publication “The Mariner’s Handbook”. But, this is the FIRST TIME, I’m learning about ‘necessary precautions’ taken to safeguard a ‘static entity’ called the SSCP’!! Should be in the reckoning for the Nobel Prize in ‘SCIENCE’!!)
“Issue 7: Impact of sulphur in the fuel on environment”
Para 6.4.20 (pp – 79)
“The emission of SO2 due to burning of fuel in ship is considered as a line source. The ships have been recommended to use low sulphur fuel. The emissions envisaged will be low and impact of these emissions on the Marine National Park which is 20 km away from the Channel, considering the dispersion and dilution potential available due to sea wind, is not envisaged”.
(Comment: The use of Low Sulphur High Speed Diesel (LSHSD) by ships will affect the fuel savings costs as LSHSD is nearly 1.5 times costlier than HSD. The difference in rates between HSD and LSHSD can be clearly seen on the website www.bunkerworld.com)
(The writer can be contacted at “Athreya”A1/8-flat-5 22nd Cross Street Besantnagar, Chennai-600 090)
http://www.organiser.org/dynamic/modules.php?name=Content&pa=showpage&pid=241&page=13
http://setubandha.blogspot.com/2008/05/analysing-economic-viability-of-sscp.html
Analysing the economic viability of the SSCP from a shipping perspective on the basis of official reports – Part 7 by Capt. (Retd.) H. Balakrishnan, I.N.
Introduction
1. Over the past year (2007), much has been written and stated, in the media, about the viability or otherwise, of the SSCP. The statements have also highlighted the economic benefits that would accrue to the Southern districts of Tamil Nadu on account of the SSCP.
2. This paper analyses the economic viability of the SSCP, from a shipping perspective, on the basis of information contained in various 'official documents' and reports such as:
(a) The website of the Sethusamudram Corporation Ltd. (SCL)
(b) The 'Report' submitted by the 'Committee of Eminent Persons' to the Govt. of India. This 'Report had formed the basis of the revised affidavit filed in the Supreme Court, by the Govt. of India.
(c) The 'Information Memorandum of Sept. 2005' prepared by the then UTI Bank (now Axis Bank), the lead Bank for arranging the financial loan for the execution of the Project.
Economic viability of the SSCP
SCL Website
3. The website, in addition to highlighting various USPs of the project, states: "Sethusamudram Ship Channel Project, which envisages digging a ship channel across the Palk Straits between India and Sri Lanka, is finally taking shape. The project will allow ships sailing between the East and West Coasts of India to have a straight passage through India's territorial waters, instead of having to circumvent Sri Lanka. This will lead to a saving of upto 424 nautical miles (780 kms) and upto 30 hours in sailing time." It further states: "The project will become self-sustaining over a period of time. According to conservative estimates, about 3055 vessels will be using the canal annually. This will inevitably go up further."
4. The foregoing statement in the website implies that the SSCP is envisaged as a profitable undertaking which would lead to its self-sustenance in the years ahead.
Information Memorandum of the UTI Bank (now Axis Bank)
5. From this document, the annual expenditure for the SCL can be calculated. The main items forming this expenditure are summarized below.
6. Operation and Maintenance Costs (O&M Costs). From item 10.2 of the 'Information Memorandum', the budgeted figures for the O&M costs are as follows:
(a)Maintenance Costs
(Rs. in millions)
-- Maintenance of Vessel traffic Management Scheme (VTMS) 50
-- Maintenance dredging 200
(Note: For the 3rd and 4th year Maintenance Dredging has been
pegged at Rs. 170 million and from the 5th year onwards it
stabilizes at Rs. 140 million)
-- Civil Maintenance 10
-- Tugs and launches 100
-- Plant and Machinery 10
(b) Operation costs
-- Administration and staff costs 50
--VTMS 8.5
--Tugs and Launches 68
-- Plant and Machinery 20
(d) Contingency and Project Management costs
-- Contingencies 25.8
(Note: For the 3rd and 4th year, this has been pegged at
Rs. 24.3 million. From the 5th year onwards, it stabilizes at
Rs. 22.8 million).
7. Details of the financial loan. From Item 14 of the Information Memorandum, entitled 'Indicative Term Sheet,' the following are the details of the financial loan:--
(a) Rupee loan
-- Amount Rs. 4369 million
-- Interest rate 8%
-- Loan period 13 years
-- Moratorium period 5 years
-- Principal repayment 16 'equal installments' from the end of 5 years
(b) US Dollar loan
-- Amount USD 100 milion
-- Interest rate Libor + 125 to 175 basis points = 5%
-- Loan period 20 years
-- Moratorium period 8 years
-- Principal repayment 24 'equal installments' from the end of 8 years
(c) Zero coupon bonds
-- Amount Rs. 5826 million
-- Interest rate NIL
-- Loan period 30 years
-- Moratorium period 18 years
- Principal repayment 12 'annual instalments' beginning from the end of 18 years
8. Profitability. A profit margin of 9% has been assumed for the project to build reserves.
9. Thus, the 'Income to be generated' by the SCL to become a self-sustaining undertaking, on an annual basis, is tabulated at Appendix A. The Zero Coupon Bonds have not been taken into account for the purposes of this analysis.
10. Ship tariff. As the SCL website anticipates an annual shipping traffic of 3055 ships to pass through the SSCP, the possible tariff to be levied on individual ships has been calculated and tabulated at Appendix A.
Time and fuel cost savings
11. The Report submitted by the 'Committee of Eminent Persons' (Chapter 8, para 8.2.5), gives the voyage distances between the ports of 'Origin' and 'Destination'. The voyage speeds in the 'open sea' as also through the 'SSCP' have been given in this Report (Chapter 8, para 8.2.13).
12. On the basis of the foregoing, the following have been tabulated: (a) Fuel cost savings—Appendix B; (b) Time savings –-Appendix C
Analysis of the Appendices
13. The Report by the 'Committee of Eminent Persons', in Chapter 8, Para 8.2.7 states: "The approach followed by the consultants to propose tariff @ 75% of savings in one of the alternatives, may result in a scenario where the channel charges may be higher than the savings. As the tariff rate @50% of savings has been proposed, in the base case I.R.R., such a situation has been avoided. However, the savings to some ships will be more than 50%, while for some, it will be lower."
14. In the light of the foregoing, comparison of the possible tariff to be levied on individual ships as calculated at Appendix A, and 50% the Fuel Cost Savings at Appendix B (column 'q'), will clearly reveal that the SCL will NOT be able to recover its expenditure burden in the FIRST YEAR OF OPERATION ITSELF.
15. On the other hand, if the SCL decides on a higher tariff regime, as in the case of the major ports of India (e.g. Chennai Port Rs. 1.11 lakh/km for 7 kms of 'pilotage'), then the fuel cost savings achieved by navigating through the SSCP, will be nullified for the shipping companies.
16. The 'Time Savings' tabulation at Appendix C debunks the claim of the SCL website of 'Savings upto 30 hours in sailing time'. The same is the case in 'Savings in Voyage distances' also.
17. Cost escalation. A report in the economics daily 'MINT' of 25 Sept. 2007, entitled 'Money runs dry for Sethusamudram', stated the cost of the project has 'Skyrocketed to at least 4000 crores, interest rates have crawled higher and old loan terms have lapsed.' In a word, higher tariff regime for ships other than indicated at Appendix A.
Conclusion
18. In my earlier 6 Part analysis of the SSCP, I had concluded that the 'SSCP just does not make any nautical sense.'
19. The present analysis, on the basis of official reports, has only served to reinforce the earlier conclusion.
20. The SSCP is a nautical folly.
Appendices:
(A) Income Generatin and Possible ship Tariff
(B) Fuel Cost Savings
(C) Time Savings
References:
(1) Sethusamudram Corporation Ltd. Website URL: www.sethusamudram.gov.in
(2) Report by the 'Committee of Eminent Persons'
(3) Informatin Memorandum of the UTI Bank (Axis Bank) URL: http://sethusamudram.gov.in/Images/InfoMemo.doc
Appendix A SSCP – Income Generation and Ship Tariff
(Rs. in Lakhs); US $ = Rs. 39.79
Year/item 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
Rupee loan interest 3495.2 3495.2 3495.2 3495.2 3495.2 3495.2 3495.2 3495.2 3495.2
Rupee loan principal 5461.25 5461.25 5461.25 5461.25
US $ loan interest 1989.5 1989.5 1989.5 1989.5 1989.5 1989.5 1989.5 1989.5 1989.5
US $ loan
principal 3315.83
O&M 5423.0 5423.0 5108.0 5108.0 4793.0 4793.0 4793.0 4793.0 4793.0
9% profit 981.69 981.69 953.34 953.34 924.99 1416.5 1416.5 1416.5 1714.93
TOTAL 11889.39 11889.39 11546.04 11546.04 11202.69 17155.40 17155.40 17155.40 20769.71
TARIFF
(Total / 3055) 3.89 3.89 3.78 3.78 3.66 5.61 5.61 5.61 6.79
Appendix B SSCP Voyages: Fuel Costs and Savings
(Open sea speed = 12 knots; SSCP speed = 6 knots)
Voyage From Voyage To Voyage Fuel Cost (Around Srilanka) Voyage Vuel Cost (Via SSCP) Savings Rs.
Aden Chennai 64,26,744.3 60,04,222.8 4.22,521.5
Aden Vizag 70,53,937.8 67,63,501.8 2,90,436.0
Aden Kolkata 78,47,019.3 76,63,104.0 1,83,915.3
Kochi Chennai 22,36,933.0 18,04,469.6
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If SSP Corporationis chronically sick,it may not matter much to Baalu. The Government will not become bankrupt overnight! Much less, the longevity of Baaly in politis is limited, He is simply making hay while sun shines! For the opportunists and self seekers like Baa;u. the arguments of Dr. Kalyanaram, though most sensible, may not mean much to Baalu
M.Srinivaan
--- On Sat, 3/5/08, kalyan97
From: kalyan97
Subject: [Branded Indian] Analysing the economic viability of the SSCP -- Capt. (Retd) H. Balakrishnan, I.N.
To:
Date: Saturday, 3 May, 2008, 5:11 PM
http://setubandha. blogspot. com/2008/ 05/analysing- economic- viability- of-sscp.html
Analysing the economic viability of the SSCP from a shipping perspective on the basis of official reports – Part 7 by Capt. (Retd.) H. Balakrishnan, I.N.
Introduction
1. Over the past year (2007), much has been written and stated, in the media, about the viability or otherwise, of the SSCP. The statements have also highlighted the economic benefits that would accrue to the Southern districts of Tamil Nadu on account of the SSCP.
2. This paper analyses the economic viability of the SSCP, from a shipping perspective, on the basis of information contained in various 'official documents' and reports such as:
(a) The website of the Sethusamudram Corporation Ltd. (SCL)
(b) The 'Report' submitted by the 'Committee of Eminent Persons' to the Govt. of India. This 'Report had formed the basis of the revised affidavit filed in the Supreme Court, by the Govt. of India.
(c) The 'Information Memorandum of Sept. 2005' prepared by the then UTI Bank (now Axis Bank), the lead Bank for arranging the financial loan for the execution of the Project.
Economic viability of the SSCP
SCL Website
3. The website, in addition to highlighting various USPs of the project, states: "Sethusamudram Ship Channel Project, which envisages digging a ship channel across the Palk Straits between India and Sri Lanka, is finally taking shape. The project will allow ships sailing between the East and West Coasts of India to have a straight passage through India's territorial waters, instead of having to circumvent Sri Lanka. This will lead to a saving of upto 424 nautical miles (780 kms) and upto 30 hours in sailing time." It further states: "The project will become self-sustaining over a period of time. According to conservative estimates, about 3055 vessels will be using the canal annually.. This will inevitably go up further."
4. The foregoing statement in the website implies that the SSCP is envisaged as a profitable undertaking which would lead to its self-sustenance in the years ahead.
Information Memorandum of the UTI Bank (now Axis Bank)
5. From this document, the annual expenditure for the SCL can be calculated. The main items forming this expenditure are summarized below.
6. Operation and Maintenance Costs (O&M Costs). From item 10.2 of the 'Information Memorandum', the budgeted figures for the O&M costs are as follows:
(a)Maintenance Costs
(Rs. in millions)
-- Maintenance of Vessel traffic Management Scheme (VTMS) 50
-- Maintenance dredging 200
(Note: For the 3rd and 4th year Maintenance Dredging has been
pegged at Rs. 170 million and from the 5th year onwards it
stabilizes at Rs. 140 million)
-- Civil Maintenance 10
-- Tugs and launches 100
-- Plant and Machinery 10
(b) Operation costs
-- Administration and staff costs 50
--VTMS 8.5
--Tugs and Launches 68
-- Plant and Machinery 20
(d) Contingency and Project Management costs
-- Contingencies 25.8
(Note: For the 3rd and 4th year, this has been pegged at
Rs. 24.3 million. From the 5th year onwards, it stabilizes at
Rs. 22.8 million).
7. Details of the financial loan. From Item 14 of the Information Memorandum, entitled 'Indicative Term Sheet,' the following are the details of the financial loan:--
(a) Rupee loan
-- Amount Rs. 4369 million
-- Interest rate 8%
-- Loan period 13 years
-- Moratorium period 5 years
-- Principal repayment 16 'equal installments' from the end of 5 years
(b) US Dollar loan
-- Amount USD 100 milion
-- Interest rate Libor + 125 to 175 basis points = 5%
-- Loan period 20 years
-- Moratorium period 8 years
-- Principal repayment 24 'equal installments' from the end of 8 years
(c) Zero coupon bonds
-- Amount Rs. 5826 million
-- Interest rate NIL
-- Loan period 30 years
-- Moratorium period 18 years
- Principal repayment 12 'annual instalments' beginning from the end of 18 years
8. Profitability.. A profit margin of 9% has been assumed for the project to build reserves.
9. Thus, the 'Income to be generated' by the SCL to become a self-sustaining undertaking, on an annual basis, is tabulated at Appendix A. The Zero Coupon Bonds have not been taken into account for the purposes of this analysis.
10. Ship tariff. As the SCL website anticipates an annual shipping traffic of 3055 ships to pass through the SSCP, the possible tariff to be levied on individual ships has been calculated and tabulated at Appendix A.
Time and fuel cost savings
11. The Report submitted by the 'Committee of Eminent Persons' (Chapter 8, para 8.2.5), gives the voyage distances between the ports of 'Origin' and 'Destination' . The voyage speeds in the 'open sea' as also through the 'SSCP' have been given in this Report (Chapter 8, para 8.2.13).
12. On the basis of the foregoing, the following have been tabulated: (a) Fuel cost savings—Appendix B; (b) Time savings –-Appendix C
Analysis of the Appendices
13. The Report by the 'Committee of Eminent Persons', in Chapter 8, Para 8.2.7 states: "The approach followed by the consultants to propose tariff @ 75% of savings in one of the alternatives, may result in a scenario where the channel charges may be higher than the savings. As the tariff rate @50% of savings has been proposed, in the base case I.R.R., such a situation has been avoided. However, the savings to some ships will be more than 50%, while for some, it will be lower."
14. In the light of the foregoing, comparison of the possible tariff to be levied on individual ships as calculated at Appendix A, and 50% the Fuel Cost Savings at Appendix B (column 'q'), will clearly reveal that the SCL will NOT be able to recover its expenditure burden in the FIRST YEAR OF OPERATION ITSELF.
15. On the other hand, if the SCL decides on a higher tariff regime, as in the case of the major ports of India (e.g. Chennai Port Rs. 1.11 lakh/km for 7 kms of 'pilotage'), then the fuel cost savings achieved by navigating through the SSCP, will be nullified for the shipping companies.
16. The 'Time Savings' tabulation at Appendix C debunks the claim of the SCL website of 'Savings upto 30 hours in sailing time'. The same is the case in 'Savings in Voyage distances' also.
17. Cost escalation. A report in the economics daily 'MINT' of 25 Sept. 2007, entitled 'Money runs dry for Sethusamudram' , stated the cost of the project has 'Skyrocketed to at least 4000 crores, interest rates have crawled higher and old loan terms have lapsed.' In a word, higher tariff regime for ships other than indicated at Appendix A.
Conclusion
18. In my earlier 6 Part analysis of the SSCP, I had concluded that the 'SSCP just does not make any nautical sense.'
19. The present analysis, on the basis of official reports, has only served to reinforce the earlier conclusion.
20. The SSCP is a nautical folly.
Appendices:
(A) Income Generatin and Possible ship Tariff
(B) Fuel Cost Savings
(C) Time Savings
References:
(1) Sethusamudram Corporation Ltd. Website URL: www.sethusamudram. gov.in
(2) Report by the 'Committee of Eminent Persons'
(3) Informatin Memorandum of the UTI Bank (Axis Bank) URL: http://sethusamudra m.gov.in/ Images/InfoMemo. doc
- Show quoted text -
Appendix A SSCP – Income Generation and Ship Tariff
(Rs. in Lakhs); US $ = Rs. 39.79
Year/item 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
Rupee loan interest 3495.2 3495.2 3495.2 3495.2 3495.2 3495.2 3495.2 3495.2 3495.2
Rupee loan principal 5461.25 5461.25 5461.25 5461.25
US $ loan interest 1989.5 1989.5 1989.5 1989.5 1989.5 1989.5 1989.5 1989.5 1989.5
US $ loan
principal 3315.83
O&M 5423.0 5423.0 5108.0 5108.0 4793.0 4793.0 4793.0 4793.0 4793.0
9% profit 981.69 981.69 953.34 953.34 924.99 1416.5 1416.5 1416.5 1714.93
TOTAL 11889.39 11889.39 11546.04 11546.04 11202.69 17155.40 17155.40 17155.40 20769.71
TARIFF
(Total / 3055) 3.89 3.89 3.78 3.78 3.66 5.61 5.61 5.61 6.79
Appendix B SSCP Voyages: Fuel Costs and Savings
(Open sea speed = 12 knots; SSCP speed = 6 knots)
- Show quoted text -
Voyage From Voyage To Voyage Fuel Cost (Around Srilanka) Voyage Vuel Cost (Via SSCP) Savings Rs.
Aden Chennai 64,26,744.3 60,04,222.8 4.22,521.5
Aden Vizag 70,53,937.8 67,63,501.8 2,90,436.0
Aden Kolkata 78,47,019.3 76,63,104.0 1,83,915.3
- Show quoted text -
Kochi Chennai 22,36,933.0 18,04,469.6 4,32,403.4
Kochi Paradeep 33,25,715.9 31,29,586.2 1,96,129.7
Kochi Kolkata 36,57,208.1 34,59,090.0 1,98,118.1
Tuticorin Vizag 24,71,278.5 19,56,439.0 5,14,839.5
Tuticorin Kolkata 32,66,634.8 28,56,893.0 4,09,741.4
Notes
(A) The distance and speeds used for the calculations have been obtained from the 'Report' submitted by 'The Committee of Eminent Persons'
(B) The Indian Oil Corporation tariffs effective from 1 March 2008 for various marine fuels per metric tonne (Mt) are as follows:
(i) High Speed Diesel (HSD) for use in the SSCP = Rs. 27,384 + 23.43% VAT = Rs. 33,800/Mt
(ii) Heavy Oil (H.O.) for use in the Open Sea = Rs. 27,313 + 4% VAT = Rs. 28,405.5/Mt
(C) The average fuel consumption has been taken as 1 Mt per hour
(D) These calculations do NOT take into account the 'Pilotage Rates' that are going to be levied for using the SSCP
(E) Based on current Pilotage Rates being levied at Major Ports in India, it is probable that circumnavigating Sri Lanka would be more cost-effective.
Appendix C SSCP Time Savings for voyages
(Open sea speed = 12 knots; SSCP speed = 6 knots)
Voyage From Voyage To Voyage distance around Sri Lanka (km) Voyage distance via SSCP (km) Voyage Time around Sri Lanka Voyage Time via SSCP Savings in Time (Hours)
Aden Chennai 2715 2380 226.25 206.96 19.2
Aden Vizag 2980 2700 248.33 233.63 14.7
Aden Kolkata 3315 3080 276.25 265.3 10.9
Kochi Chennai 945 605 78.75 59 19.7
Kochi Paradeep 1405 1165 117.08 105.71 11.37
Kochi Kolkata 1545 1305 128.75 117.3 11.45
Tuticorin Vizag 1045 670 87 64.4 22.6
Tuticorin Kolkata 1380 1050
June 15, 2008
Sethu project
A mockery of science, conservation and environmental laws
By Sudarshan Rodriguez
It is beyond doubt that the Sethusamudram project will have disastrous consequences for the region’s biodiversity.
UNCOMFORTABLE QUESTIONS: Dredging activity will result in the killing of species protected under the Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.
The religio-political controversy and public debate surrounding the Sethusamudram Ship Canal Project (SSCP) have overshadowed the original arguments raised against this project, namely its environmental, economic and social impacts.
Ecological significance
Part of the project area, specifically Adam’s Bridge, falls within the Gulf of Mannar Biosphere Reserve (GOMBR). It is India’s largest biosphere reserve and has an area of 10,500 sq km, covering the “Indian part of Gulf of Mannar between India and Sri Lanka.” It is one of India’s major coral reef ecosystems with 3,600 species of flora and fauna, of which 377 are endemic. It is famous for its chanks (conches and other shells) which make Rameswaram one of the world’s largest shell trade and craft centres. The 21 islands that constitute the core zone of the GOMBR form the Gulf of Mannar Marine National Park, which is India’s second marine national park. UNESCO’s Biosphere Reserve concept is based on the idea of oneness of humanity transcending national frontiers and recognises the need for conservation of vanishing species and habitats. The canal at Adam’s Bridge is a mere 20 km from Shingle Island, one of these 21 islands. With the completion of the SSCP, ships will be navigating through the biosphere reserve and close to the park.
The other part where most of the capital dredging is planned in the Palk Bay, which is also ecologically sensitive and has extensive sea grass meadows. Sea grasses serve as nurseries for fish stocks, and are essential grazing areas for turtles and dugongs (also known as the sea cow: a highly endangered species on the verge of extinction).
Rohan Arthur, an ecologist and a leading expert on sea grasses and corals with the Nature Conservation Foundation, is of the view that “the importance of the sea grass meadows of the Palk Bay and Gulf of Mannar cannot be overstated, as they are a conservation hotspot of regional and global relevance.” (from Review of the Environmental and Economic Aspects of the Sethusamudram Ship Canal Project by Sudarshan Rodriguez, Jacob John, Rohan Arthur, Kartik Shanker and Aarthi Sridhar.)
Impact of dredging
The Palk Bay, known for its unusually high sedimentation rate, is one of the five permanent sediment sinks of India, that is, sediments are constantly being deposited in the Palk Bay and Palk Strait. The sediment sink and transport mechanism in the region are yet to be fully understood. Strangely, all the project documents summarily ignore important knowledge of sedimentation, and the bibliography stops at 1989 while some of the key papers were published in the late 1990s and since 2000. Dredging Adam’s Bridge along a 300-metre wide stretch to make the canal passage will have drastic consequences for marine ecosystems in the Palk Bay and the Gulf of Mannar.
It will be akin to opening the floodgates of a dam and will allow sediments from the Palk Bay to flow freely into the Gulf of Mannar, thus affecting the corals and fisheries in the Marine National Park and the whole biosphere reserve. Both sea grasses and corals are sensitive to increases in sediment levels. “The changed sediment conditions have a range of effects on corals and sea grasses, affecting their basic physiology, reproduction, recruitment, population and community structure,” says Rohan Arthur in Review of the Environmental and Economic Aspects of the Sethusamudram Ship Canal Project (cited above).
Loss of wildlife
The project directly results in loss of wildlife, specifically protected species. This is evident from its own documents (Section 1.3 and 3.2 of the Environmental Impact Assessment prepared by NEERI) which acknowledges the presence of corals, sea fans, sponges, pearl oysters, chanks and sea cucumbers along the canal. The EIA (Section 6.4.1.2 and 6.6) report states: “Due to dredging, the bottom flora and fauna on an area of about 6 sq km along the channel alignment in Adam’s Bridge and about 16-17 sq km in Palk Bay/Palk Strait area will be lost permanently.” Thus, the dredging activity for the canal will result in the killing of corals, sea fans, sponges, and sea cucumbers, all of which are protected species under the Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.
In fact, corals are Schedule I species, which means the government accords it the same protected status as a tiger. It is shocking that this aspect is being overlooked. According to the proponents of the project, it is an acceptable price to pay.
Environmental laws
The EIA did not have a dredging management programme. This is also pointed out in the L&T-Ramboll Detail Project Report (DPR) of the SSCP, which recommends that this be done (L&T-Ramboll DPR, Section 12.9.2 on page 12-11, bullet point 2). The EIA of the project also did not have a Disaster Management Plan (DMP), a mandatory legal requirement. (Under Form A, Item 11 of the EIA notification, 1994 and the Ministry of Environment and Forest’s EIA Manual).
Till date there is no DMP for the project and the project authorities have stated on various occasions that the Tuticorin Port Trust’s (TPT) DMP would be applicable for the project. The TPT’s DMP was developed only for the functioning of the Tuticorin port, where ships navigated in the southern Gulf of Mannar (around Kanyakumari) to Tuticorin and not further through the Adam’s Bridge and the Palk Bay.
Many experts have pointed out severe shortcomings in the project’s documents and design in terms of data gaps with respect to basic parameters such as sub-surface geology, bathymetry, and sedimentation process in the project area. These have resulted in the poor design of the project and inadequate assessment of risks, hazards and environmental impacts. It is beyond doubt that it will have disastrous consequences for the region’s biodiversity, causing major and permanent losses to fisheries and livelihoods.
The government needs to answer some uncomfortable questions on why it ignored its own conservation and environment laws. The relegation of the above-mentioned environmental arguments against the SSCP, and the lack of scientific rigour in the design and EIA of the project, represent a mockery of science, conservation and environmental laws.
(The writer is a Senior Research Associate at the Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment (ATREE). He can be contacted at sudarshanr@yahoo.com)
http://www.organiser.org/dynamic/modules.php?name=Content&pa=showpage&pid=241&page=14
History, ecology are at stake
From The Pioneer Edit Desk on June 12th
When the Taliban destroyed the Bamiyan statues, the world reacted with shocked horror at this act of barbarism. What the UPA Government in India proposes to do to Ram Setu, also known as Adam’s Bridge, is no less horrifying. As may be recalled, the Setusamudram Ship Channel Project aims to create a navigable sea route, between the Gulf of Mannar and Palk Bay, by slicing the Ram Setu in order to reduce the sailing distance between India’s coasts. Consequently, the Ram Setu, of known spiritual significance to Hindus, will be destroyed through extensive dredging. In fact, there are sound reasons for rejecting the project, as conceived at present, other than the important one of protecting the site for its cultural and religious worth. Among them, what are weighty are the objections that pertain to its wide-ranging environmental impact. For instance, experts have claimed shifts in the flows of currents would adversely affect sensitive ecosystems, as would the increasing possibility of damaging oil spills. It is estimated that fragile marine life, such as delicate corals, would be destroyed through the various processes unleashed. Life on the mainland would not remain unaffected as changes in seawater flows and temperature would impact climate and affect rainfall in coastal areas even as erosion could increase. Most importantly, experts inform us, the Ram Setu forms a barrier that blocks tsunamis, in the absence of which the entire coasts of Kerala and Tamil Nadu could be endangered. Were this not reason enough, Thorium deposits in Kerala and Tamil Nadu may be affected, upsetting India’s indigenous nuclear programme. It is significant that the Sir Mudaliar Committee Report of 1956 had recommended the abandonment of the idea of such a project, finding the channel alignment unsuitable.
The argument about the spiritual significance of the site is no less compelling. It is neither here nor there to argue that there is little scientific evidence to prove that Adam’s Bridge is manmade. For, within each spiritual tradition are matters purely of belief for which no rational explanations or scientific proofs are available. Thus Christians believe in the immaculate conception, the Jews that the Red Sea parted for Moses, and Muslims that Islam was revealed to the Prophet through the divine agency of Angel Gabriel. The Hindu belief that Hanuman’s vanar sena built a bridge to Lanka that allowed Ram to cross over, fell Ravana and rescue Sita is in a similar vein and should hardly be scoffed at. The historicity of the event has little relevance to the debate, though it is possible that, as Indians were prone to oral narratives rather than written records, facts are likely to be the basis of the Ramayan. As the sentiments of hundreds of millions of people are involved, these cannot be trumped by the views of an individual Minister in a democracy. Nothing explains the unholy hurry in going ahead with the project except the need to pander to the crassest financial interests.
Editor’s addendum: S Badrinarayanan, former director of Geological Survey of India and a member of the National Institute of Ocean Technology (NIOT) says the Adam’s Bridge was not a natural formation. “Such a natural formation is impossible. Unless somebody has transported them and dumped them there, those reefs could not have come there. Some boulders were so light that they could float on water. Apparently, whoever has done it, has identified light (but strong) boulders to make it easy for transportation. Since they are strong, they can withstand a lot of weight. It should be preserved as a national monument,” he opined.
http://www.hinduyuva.org/tattva-blog/2007/07/save-ram-setu/
Rama Setu: campaign for recognition as world heritage
Campaign to declare Gulf of Mannar as world heritage site
New York (PTI) (The Hindu, June 10, 2008): A US-based NGO has launched a campaign for designating the Gulf of Mannar, which includes Ram Sethu that is at the centre of the controversy in India over construction of a ship canal project, as a UNESCO World Heritage Natural and Cultural site.
In a statement, the Living Planet Foundation said the site fulfils the criteria and requirements set forth in the World Heritage Convention.
The designation would assist in the protection of the first marine biosphere reserve in all of South and Southeast Asia, it said.
The Foundation claimed that its activists have submitted petitions to the Indian embassy and consulates in the United States.
In a letter to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, the Foundation said the declaration of Gulf of Mannar as World Heritage Site would enhance India's prestige.
http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/holnus/001200806101501.htm
Campaign for Manner Gulf as Heritage Site
Tuesday, 06.10.2008, 06:41am (GMT-7)
HOUSTON: The Living Planet Foundation of USA, in association with a number of international organizations has launched a worldwide campaign to have the Gulf of Mannar designated as a UNESCO World Heritage mixed Natural and Cultural site.A delegation from the Campaign met with S.M. Gavai, Consul General of India at the India Consulate General Houston, Texas and handed him the Campaign's letter addressed to the Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. Founders of the Campaign believe that the Gulf of Mannar which includes Ram Sethu (Adam's Bridge) fulfills the criteria and requirements set forth in the World Heritage Convention for designation as a World Heritage Site.
This designation would assist in the protection of this first marine Biosphere reserve in all of South and Southeast Asia located on the southeastern tip of India in the state of Tamil Nadu.The Campaign is urging people of all walks of life to appeal the Government of India to petition the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) to declare the Gulf of Mannar a World Heritage Site. The meeting covered a range of topics, including the importance of the Gulf of Mannar as an ecological and environmental hotspot, the cultural and religious aspects of Ram Sethu (Adam's Bridge) and the thorium deposits of the region.
Gavai gave a clear declaration from him that the ecological and environmental aspects of the Gulf of Mannar must not be ignored. He promised to look into the matter and also expressed a keen interest about the Thorium deposits in the region of Mannar and its potential as India's nuclear energy resource.In other parts of the world, volunteers from the Campaign handed petitions to the Indian Embassy in Washington, D.C. and Consulates in Chicago and Toronto.
India Post News Service
http://indiapost.com/article/communitypost/2980/
BJP ropes in foreign troupes to enact Ram Lila
Hemender Sharma
CNN-IBN
http://www.ibnlive.com/pix/sitepix/06_2008/ramsetu_cambodia_248.jpg
WORLD CELEBRATES RAMLILA: Playing music on wooden instruments is Cambodian way of paying homage to the gods.
Bhopal: In an answer from the ruling state BJP government to those behind the controversial Ram Setu affidavit, troupes from eight different countries will be participating in a nine-day long festival that will stage the different forms of Ram Lila.
Troupes from Cambodia, Bali, Sri Lanka, Java, Thailand and Singapore have all arrived in Bhopal to enact the eternal battle between good and evil.
“Lord Rama is India. Without him India is nothing. Not just India, Ram Lila is staged in other parts of the world too. Therefore, we have organised this festival to tell the reality to those people who, through an affidavit, questioned the existence of Lord Rama,” Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan says.
In Cambodia, Rama is known as Pharash Ream and Ravana as Krong Reap. And Cambodians pay homage to their gods by playing music on wooden instruments.
Meanwhile, for the ruling BJP, turning their focus to Ram in an election year, is yet another attempt to consolidate its core strength.
"It is not just the BJP. Gandhiji also remembered Rama and introduced the concept of Ram Rajya," BJP President Rajnath Singh says.
The multi-cultural Ramayana is being staged in Ujjain, Gwalior and Bhopal.
http://www.ibnlive.com/news/bjp-ropes-in-foreign-troupe-to-enact-ramayana/66811-3.html
Sunday, June 8, 2008
Dr. S Kalyanaraman awarded 19th Dr. Hedgewar Praj~na Samman
Sunday June 08 2008 Kolkata:
Dr. S. Kalyanaraman, President of Rama Setu Raksha Manch and Director of Saraswati Shodh Sansthan, received the 19th annual Dr. Hedgewar Praj~na Samman award. Former Union Minister Dr. Murali Manohar Joshi presided over the function held at the Kalamandira Prekshagriha. The award is given every year to an eminent scholar for lifelong contribution to Indic research by Shri Burrabazar Kumar Sabha Pustakalaya Kolkata and consists of a citation, a memento and Rs 51,000. Dr. Kalyanaraman, was given the award for his path breaking work towards researches in Saraswati Civilization and for his efforts in Rama Setu Protection Movement.
Born on October 20, 1939 at a village under Tanjor district of Tamil Nadu Dr Kalyanraman completed BA from Annamalai University in 1958. He joined the Accountant General Office of Bangalore after his father’s demise. He also worked as the Chief Controller of Accounts (Karnataka Electricity Board) and a financial advisor in Railway Board till 1978. He then took up an assignment in the Asian Development Bank as a senior officer till 1995. During this period he toured 29 countries of the world and monitored 650 developmental projects. He did his Ph.d in Public Administration in 1982. He also played a key role in computerisation of the Indian Railways.
With the inspiration of the late Shri Moropant Pingle, Dr Kalyanraman joined him in the Saraswati river research project. He took voluntary retirement from the Asian Development Bank five years before the actual retirement. While working with the project he not only discovered the flow route of Saraswati river but also materialised it practically at some places. Dr Kalyanraman wishes to irrigate additional nine crore acre land of the country while connecting Brahmaputra and other rivers. He has authored a five-volume book on Sindhu script and 8-volume book on Saraswati river civilisation. Earlier he was also honoured with Vakankar Award in the year 2000.
Speaking at the function, Dr. Kalyanaraman narrated how after being inspired by Shri Moropant Pingale, both of them took up the Saraswati Research and extensively traveled in the interiors of Rajasthan, Gujarat, Haryana and Himachal, to trace the path of Saraswati River that dried up five thousand years ago. Speaking in Hindi, he narrated many mesmerizing details about his research. He also shared with audience the status of Ram Setu Protection Movement, and described in detail how the legal battle is progressing. He also added that the real battle will be won not in court rooms, but on roads.
Dr. Murali Manohar Joshi who handed the award, also spoke recounting how when he was the Union Minister for HRD, the government had initiated projects to discover the new facets of Indic Culture and how these were branded by the left-secular media as saffronization of Indian history.
Shri Suresh Soni, the saha-sara-kaaryavaah of RSS, was the chief guest of the function which was also attended by Shri S Vedantam, the Working President of VHP, Shri Tarun Vijay, director of Dr. Syama Prasad Mookerjee Research Foundation, the office bearers of the library and general public.
Visit this site tomorrow for images and videos.
http://www.bridgeofram.com/2008/06/dr-s-kalyanaraman-awarded-19th-dr.html
Friday, June 6, 2008
Rama Setu could have been declared national monument in 1914
British Governor wanted Ram Setu declared national monument in 1914
Rana Ajit | New Delhi (Pioneer, June 6, 2008)
Friday, June 06, 2008
Adam's bridge could have been national monument in 1914
New Delhi: A senior British official had sought national monument status for the Ram Sethu or Adam's Bridge off the Tamil Nadu coast almost a century ago, something that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and some Hindu groups are pressing for now.
Lord Pentland, who was the governor of the Madras presidency between 1912 and 1919, had written to the then Indian Viceroy Lord Hardinge in December 1914 to have an archaeological study conducted on the Ram Sethu - between Rameshwaram, in India, and Sri Lanka - to ascertain if it could be declared a national monument.
"I would earnestly request you to direct the Archaeological Survey of India to undertake an extensive and intensive survey of Rameshwaram and its beautiful environs, particularly with reference to historic and primordial Adam's Bridge, for declaring it as a national monument," Lord Pentland wrote to Lord Hardinge after touring Rameshwaram in 1914.
The letter, retrieved by former union minister Subramaniam Swamy from the archives of the Chennai mayor's office, has now been sent to the central government to buttress his claim that the Ram Sethu needs to be declared a national monument after an archaeological study.
On a bunch of lawsuits, filed by Swamy and others, the apex court on May 8 had advised the government to explore the possibility of sparing the Ram Sethu and adopting an "alternative alignment" to build a shorter navigational route around the Indian peninsula.
The court had also sought the government's stand for an archaeological study to ascertain if the Ram Sethu could be declared a national monument.
Lord Pentland, after touring Rameshwaram and other places in his presidency, wrote: "Along the Bay of Bengal, the Madras presidency runs with the well-governed city of Madras at its centre and the sublime and glorious temple of Tanjore (Thanjavur), Trichinopoly (Tiruchirapalli), Madurai and Rameshwaram adorning the southern boundaries."
"And, then the Adam's Bridge, a reef of sunken island beckons us across the Palk Strait to Ceylon, where civilization flourished more than 2,000 years ago," wrote Lord Pentland.
"Linga sculptures may be seen at many places along the highways in my presidency. The Hindus break upon them the coconuts, which they offer in sacrifice. Usually the ritual is simple and becoming," he added.
Under the spell of India's "simple and becoming" lifestyle in Rameshwaram, Lord Pentland found his own English lifestyle a "bottled-up" one and went on to write: "For me, Rameshwaram, very much like India as a whole, is the real world. We Englishmen live in a mad house of abstractions."
"Vital life in Rameshwaram has not yet withdrawn in the capsule of the head. It's the whole body, which lives here. No wonder, the Englishmen feel dreamlike; the complete life of Rameshwaram is something, which they merely dream... while living in England in a sort of bottle, filled with English air."
Describing special features of the Rameshwaram temple and other places of the Madras Presidency, Pentland wrote, "All these are a little part of my beloved Presidency - indeed my favourite India."
"Right from the dawn of history, India is extraordinarily discontinuous. From early times in India, it is ethnology, philology and archaeology that give and will give us some notions of the truth. From archaeology, much can be expected," he wrote while pleading to Lord Hardinge for an archaeological study of the Ram Sethu.
The BJP and other Hindu groups are against the Rs.24 billion Sethusamudram Shipping Canal Project (SSCP), which aims to provide a shorter navigational sea route around India's southern peninsula by dredging the peak of what is believed to be the Ram Sethu. The Supreme Court is hearing the plea against the damage to the Adam's Bridge, which many Hindus believe to be the mythological bridge built during the Ramayana.
Source: Indo-Asian News Service
Rana Ajit | New Delhi (Pioneer, June 6, 2008)
Friday, June 06, 2008
Adam's bridge could have been national monument in 1914
New Delhi: A senior British official had sought national monument status for the Ram Sethu or Adam's Bridge off the Tamil Nadu coast almost a century ago, something that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and some Hindu groups are pressing for now.
Lord Pentland, who was the governor of the Madras presidency between 1912 and 1919, had written to the then Indian Viceroy Lord Hardinge in December 1914 to have an archaeological study conducted on the Ram Sethu - between Rameshwaram, in India, and Sri Lanka - to ascertain if it could be declared a national monument.
"I would earnestly request you to direct the Archaeological Survey of India to undertake an extensive and intensive survey of Rameshwaram and its beautiful environs, particularly with reference to historic and primordial Adam's Bridge, for declaring it as a national monument," Lord Pentland wrote to Lord Hardinge after touring Rameshwaram in 1914.
The letter, retrieved by former union minister Subramaniam Swamy from the archives of the Chennai mayor's office, has now been sent to the central government to buttress his claim that the Ram Sethu needs to be declared a national monument after an archaeological study.
On a bunch of lawsuits, filed by Swamy and others, the apex court on May 8 had advised the government to explore the possibility of sparing the Ram Sethu and adopting an "alternative alignment" to build a shorter navigational route around the Indian peninsula.
The court had also sought the government's stand for an archaeological study to ascertain if the Ram Sethu could be declared a national monument.
Lord Pentland, after touring Rameshwaram and other places in his presidency, wrote: "Along the Bay of Bengal, the Madras presidency runs with the well-governed city of Madras at its centre and the sublime and glorious temple of Tanjore (Thanjavur), Trichinopoly (Tiruchirapalli), Madurai and Rameshwaram adorning the southern boundaries."
"And, then the Adam's Bridge, a reef of sunken island beckons us across the Palk Strait to Ceylon, where civilization flourished more than 2,000 years ago," wrote Lord Pentland.
"Linga sculptures may be seen at many places along the highways in my presidency. The Hindus break upon them the coconuts, which they offer in sacrifice. Usually the ritual is simple and becoming," he added.
Under the spell of India's "simple and becoming" lifestyle in Rameshwaram, Lord Pentland found his own English lifestyle a "bottled-up" one and went on to write: "For me, Rameshwaram, very much like India as a whole, is the real world. We Englishmen live in a mad house of abstractions."
"Vital life in Rameshwaram has not yet withdrawn in the capsule of the head. It's the whole body, which lives here. No wonder, the Englishmen feel dreamlike; the complete life of Rameshwaram is something, which they merely dream... while living in England in a sort of bottle, filled with English air."
Describing special features of the Rameshwaram temple and other places of the Madras Presidency, Pentland wrote, "All these are a little part of my beloved Presidency - indeed my favourite India."
"Right from the dawn of history, India is extraordinarily discontinuous. From early times in India, it is ethnology, philology and archaeology that give and will give us some notions of the truth. From archaeology, much can be expected," he wrote while pleading to Lord Hardinge for an archaeological study of the Ram Sethu.
The BJP and other Hindu groups are against the Rs.24 billion Sethusamudram Shipping Canal Project (SSCP), which aims to provide a shorter navigational sea route around India's southern peninsula by dredging the peak of what is believed to be the Ram Sethu. The Supreme Court is hearing the plea against the damage to the Adam's Bridge, which many Hindus believe to be the mythological bridge built during the Ramayana.
Source: Indo-Asian News Service
Thursday, June 5, 2008
Karuna, call it a bad Tamil dream, give up Setu project.
Karuna, call it a bad Tamil dream, give up Setu project.
Give up Setu project, because it will be little value added to the coastal peoples’ livelihood. In fact, it will destroy their current livelihood opportunities, shrinking the fishing area by 26% and denying accress to the fish-nurseries. And, of course, it is nautical folly which will make the Setu corpn. lose over Rs. 150 crores every year, taxing the poor Indian tax-payer. There is a good alternative project: creation of Marine Economic Zones with potential to increase foreign exchange earnings by marine products export – from Rs. 2k crores per annum to Rs. 8k crores per annum since fish-landings have increased five-fold during the last 40 years in the Indian Ocean.
kalyan
June 05, 2008
Ram Sethu for a gift
This is with reference to the report, ‘Call it Sethu Ram, but do it: Karuna’ (MM, June 4). It was not altruism or his love of Tamil Nadu that made TN Chief Minister Karunanidhi request the PM to complete the Sethusamudram project as a gift for his 85th birthday. It is common knowledge that T R Baalu, the DMK minister in the UPA cabinet, owns several companies that are directly involved in the implementation of the Sethu project. It is alleged that the DMK chieftain has interest in these companies and is bound to lose heavily in case the project is scrapped. Had he been really interested in the welfare of the people, he would have asked the PM to gift him the Cauvery.
- Vijay Mohan
http://www.mumbaimirror.com/net/mmpaper.aspx?page=article§id=21&contentid=2008060520080605032724101d20dfd13
Bungling Birthday Script! By BR Haran
On April 14 2008, the entire state was celebrating Tamil New Year Day despite the government's '(ir)rational dictum that Tamil New Year must be celebrated only on 14 January (Thai Pongal day). On that auspicious day, the state's Electricity Minister Arcot Veerasamy made a thundering declaration that, the party would ensure the movement of the first ship through the Sethu canal on Kalaignar's birthday, that is, the 3rd of June.
The Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and DMK Patriarch, Kalaignar Karunanidhi has celebrated his eighty fifth birthday in a grand manner. In the aftermath of the Supreme Court's direction to the GOI on the Rama Sethu case, he decided not to celebrate his birthday, especially after his brief hospitalization due to neck and back pain. Political observers felt that, the covert feud between the three power centres within the family circles have induced him to take that decision. But, Karunanidhi's longtime colleague and the state's Finance Minister Anbazhagan prevailed upon him and convinced him to give his assent for a big birthday bash on the grounds that the cadres would get de-motivated and demoralized and that the DMK adversaries would have a whale of a time in concocting stories maligning the party and the CM's family if the b-day is not celebrated. So, the birthday boy (!!!) made himself ready for the big bash with well-scripted dialogues, after all he has been a script writer and a dramatist through out his life.
On the eve of his birthday, Karunanidhi has written a poem in the party organ 'Murasoli' appealing to the opponents of SSCP not to oppose the project in the name of Bhagwan Rama and sought to placate them by saying that he was even prepared to name the project as 'Sethu Ram Ship Canal Project'. Also in the General Council meeting and later in the evening in the cassette release function of the film 'Uliyin Osai' (Chisel's sound), he claimed that the opposition to SSCP has been only to thwart the good name and credibility likely to be earned by him and Congress President Sonia. He felt that the opposition was not religion, but pure politics in the guise of religion. He asked the politicians (BJP/RSS/VHP) to come out of their religious guise and face the issue politically. It is an irony that Kalaignar, who has used 'religion' to the hilt in the name of secularism and social justice in his political career, is blaming the rightwing politicians as abusers of religion. .
In his speech at the general council meeting, he had stated that he was never an adversary of Bhagwan Rama. It can be recalled that only in September 2007, he insulted this nation by asking, 'was the Adams Bridge built by Rama? Is Rama an engineer? If so in which engineering college did he study? Not satisfied with this, he hurt the religious sentiments of Hindu majority by saying that Rama was a drunkard. He also ridiculed the epic and insulted Sage Tulsi Das by saying that Tulsi Das has projected Rama and Seetha as brother and sister in his Ramayana Kaavya. After ridiculing Ramayana and Rama Sethu, insulting Rama and Tulasidas and questioning the faith of the Hindu majority, he now has the audacity to say that he is not an enemy of Rama. This is what is called as the 'Double standards of the Dravidian order!
He went on to say that the Sethupathis (Kings of Ramnad) have protected the Sethu waters for ages and hence the name 'Sethu' could be connected with the name of Bhagwan Rama, so as to name the project as 'Sethu Ram', which would satisfy both the government and the Hindu Religionists. He reiterated that the SSCP has been a 150 year old dream of the Tamil people and that it is the only project, which could pave the way for the over all development of the state, as the three neighbours Karnataka, Andhra and Kerala are not willing to help it by giving its legitimate share of Cauvery, Krishna and Periyar waters respectively. The state's political history shows that he has played a vital role in bringing the Cauvery, Krishna and Periyar River issues to this sordid state of affairs. After writing the prologue in the early seventies for the Ramnad District Gazetteer, which glorifies Rama Sethu and the Sethupathis of Ramnad, he now tries to give a picture as though he is doing a favour for Bhagwan Ram and the Sethupathis by suggesting the renaming of the project as 'Sethu Ram'! In other words, he is trying to show that he gives credence to the faith of millions of Hindus worldwide and it is also an attempt to equate Bhagwan Rama with the likes of Anna and Periyar, which would give him immense 'sadistic' pleasure.
He demanded that the project, which was dreamt by stalwarts like Kamaraj and Ramasamy Mudaliyar and okayed by engineers and scientists must be implemented at any cost. Ramasamy Mudaliyar had never supported a 'sea based' channel, but only a land based channel and he was also emphatic in his opposition to break Rama Sethu. So far, Karunanidhi has never talked about Kamaraj in connection with this issue, but now he is raking up his name with an intention of putting pressure on Congress party. One also wonders which engineers he was talking about, when the experts from various fields have clearly established that the SSCP is a good for nothing project and a disastrous one too!
In a veiled threat, he has said that he was even prepared to lose his Chiefministership and the government, for the sake of the project. In a more threatening tone, he had called upon his party cadres to be ready for a 'massive battle' for the implementation of the project. This is just to indicate that, his party would go to any extent to achieve its goal.
Finally, sounding apologetic and in a tone of begging, he pleaded to the opponents of the project to sanction his birthday wish by clearing the project for implementation. He begged his opponents to award the project as a birthday gift, not for him or his family or his grandchildren or his party, but for the poor people of the state and for the future generation. As a last attempt he begged his opponents to award this project for the so-called service he rendered to Tamil, Tamil people and Tamil Nadu! This again shows the level to which he is prepared to descent down to achieve his objective!
After going down begging to the 'communal' forces on the eve of his birthday, he climbed again on top of the tree of 'pseudo-secularism' on his birthday, probably emboldened by the company of the likes of Pranab Mukherjee, Prakash Karat, D.Raja and Raghuvansh Prasad. At the public meeting organized by the party in the evening at the 'island grounds', he declared that the 'communal forces' (read BJP) must not be allowed to gain grounds, as they would spoil the secular fabric of the country. The patriarch, who brazenly enjoyed everything under the sun during the NDA regime sharing power with the very same 'communal' forces, gave a clarion birthday call to all the so-called secular forces to come together to fight against the 'Sanatana Dharma', which is a danger to the peace and progress of the country! Probably for the first time in his 'Adharmic' political career spanning more than fifty years he has 'publicly' espoused the cause of 'Adharma'.
The political pundits, who have been watching Karunanidhi's politics for the last fifty years are well aware of his antics, mannerisms and his speeches saddled with sarcasm, avarice and audacity. The point to note in the whole 'birthday-script' is that he has repeatedly harped on the so-called 'dream' and 'development', but not a word on how the state would develop and how employment opportunities would be created and how thousands of fishermen and their families would be rehabilitated and how thousands of rare species and organisms would be protected. The script doesn't have answers for the various opinions and objections raised by the experts against the project and its implementation.
On the Tamil New Year Day, when Arcot Veeerasamy said that the first ship would sail through the Sethu Canal on Karunanidhi's birthday, one wondered how it could be possible in such a short span of time! But, no one would have imagined that he would have meant only a symbolic representation. He made it a reality by erecting the stage of the public meeting in the shape of a 'SHIP' and the meeting was held at 'ISLAND' grounds near the 'Bay of Bengal'!
So, what is the motive behind such a prepared birthday script? It might be intended to convince his electorate in future that despite his sincere attempts, he couldn't attain success with regards to SSCP. Or it might be intended to indirectly threaten the Congress, conveying a message of quitting the alliance if it doesn't improve its electoral fortunes in the coming days. Or it might be intended to convey a message of readiness to the BJP for rejoining NDA. Or it might have been prepared with all the three motives of quitting UPA, joining NDA and convincing the party cadres and supporters, which could be done in one stroke! Or it might be a simple tactic of diverting the attention of people from the 'smoking' family feud. What ever said and done, it is very clear that he has taken the people for granted and that is what he has been doing for the last fifty years!
Cheers to Dravidianism! Long live Kalaignar! Doom for Tamils and Tamil Nadu!
Give up Setu project, because it will be little value added to the coastal peoples’ livelihood. In fact, it will destroy their current livelihood opportunities, shrinking the fishing area by 26% and denying accress to the fish-nurseries. And, of course, it is nautical folly which will make the Setu corpn. lose over Rs. 150 crores every year, taxing the poor Indian tax-payer. There is a good alternative project: creation of Marine Economic Zones with potential to increase foreign exchange earnings by marine products export – from Rs. 2k crores per annum to Rs. 8k crores per annum since fish-landings have increased five-fold during the last 40 years in the Indian Ocean.
kalyan
June 05, 2008
Ram Sethu for a gift
This is with reference to the report, ‘Call it Sethu Ram, but do it: Karuna’ (MM, June 4). It was not altruism or his love of Tamil Nadu that made TN Chief Minister Karunanidhi request the PM to complete the Sethusamudram project as a gift for his 85th birthday. It is common knowledge that T R Baalu, the DMK minister in the UPA cabinet, owns several companies that are directly involved in the implementation of the Sethu project. It is alleged that the DMK chieftain has interest in these companies and is bound to lose heavily in case the project is scrapped. Had he been really interested in the welfare of the people, he would have asked the PM to gift him the Cauvery.
- Vijay Mohan
http://www.mumbaimirror.com/net/mmpaper.aspx?page=article§id=21&contentid=2008060520080605032724101d20dfd13
Bungling Birthday Script! By BR Haran
On April 14 2008, the entire state was celebrating Tamil New Year Day despite the government's '(ir)rational dictum that Tamil New Year must be celebrated only on 14 January (Thai Pongal day). On that auspicious day, the state's Electricity Minister Arcot Veerasamy made a thundering declaration that, the party would ensure the movement of the first ship through the Sethu canal on Kalaignar's birthday, that is, the 3rd of June.
The Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and DMK Patriarch, Kalaignar Karunanidhi has celebrated his eighty fifth birthday in a grand manner. In the aftermath of the Supreme Court's direction to the GOI on the Rama Sethu case, he decided not to celebrate his birthday, especially after his brief hospitalization due to neck and back pain. Political observers felt that, the covert feud between the three power centres within the family circles have induced him to take that decision. But, Karunanidhi's longtime colleague and the state's Finance Minister Anbazhagan prevailed upon him and convinced him to give his assent for a big birthday bash on the grounds that the cadres would get de-motivated and demoralized and that the DMK adversaries would have a whale of a time in concocting stories maligning the party and the CM's family if the b-day is not celebrated. So, the birthday boy (!!!) made himself ready for the big bash with well-scripted dialogues, after all he has been a script writer and a dramatist through out his life.
On the eve of his birthday, Karunanidhi has written a poem in the party organ 'Murasoli' appealing to the opponents of SSCP not to oppose the project in the name of Bhagwan Rama and sought to placate them by saying that he was even prepared to name the project as 'Sethu Ram Ship Canal Project'. Also in the General Council meeting and later in the evening in the cassette release function of the film 'Uliyin Osai' (Chisel's sound), he claimed that the opposition to SSCP has been only to thwart the good name and credibility likely to be earned by him and Congress President Sonia. He felt that the opposition was not religion, but pure politics in the guise of religion. He asked the politicians (BJP/RSS/VHP) to come out of their religious guise and face the issue politically. It is an irony that Kalaignar, who has used 'religion' to the hilt in the name of secularism and social justice in his political career, is blaming the rightwing politicians as abusers of religion. .
In his speech at the general council meeting, he had stated that he was never an adversary of Bhagwan Rama. It can be recalled that only in September 2007, he insulted this nation by asking, 'was the Adams Bridge built by Rama? Is Rama an engineer? If so in which engineering college did he study? Not satisfied with this, he hurt the religious sentiments of Hindu majority by saying that Rama was a drunkard. He also ridiculed the epic and insulted Sage Tulsi Das by saying that Tulsi Das has projected Rama and Seetha as brother and sister in his Ramayana Kaavya. After ridiculing Ramayana and Rama Sethu, insulting Rama and Tulasidas and questioning the faith of the Hindu majority, he now has the audacity to say that he is not an enemy of Rama. This is what is called as the 'Double standards of the Dravidian order!
He went on to say that the Sethupathis (Kings of Ramnad) have protected the Sethu waters for ages and hence the name 'Sethu' could be connected with the name of Bhagwan Rama, so as to name the project as 'Sethu Ram', which would satisfy both the government and the Hindu Religionists. He reiterated that the SSCP has been a 150 year old dream of the Tamil people and that it is the only project, which could pave the way for the over all development of the state, as the three neighbours Karnataka, Andhra and Kerala are not willing to help it by giving its legitimate share of Cauvery, Krishna and Periyar waters respectively. The state's political history shows that he has played a vital role in bringing the Cauvery, Krishna and Periyar River issues to this sordid state of affairs. After writing the prologue in the early seventies for the Ramnad District Gazetteer, which glorifies Rama Sethu and the Sethupathis of Ramnad, he now tries to give a picture as though he is doing a favour for Bhagwan Ram and the Sethupathis by suggesting the renaming of the project as 'Sethu Ram'! In other words, he is trying to show that he gives credence to the faith of millions of Hindus worldwide and it is also an attempt to equate Bhagwan Rama with the likes of Anna and Periyar, which would give him immense 'sadistic' pleasure.
He demanded that the project, which was dreamt by stalwarts like Kamaraj and Ramasamy Mudaliyar and okayed by engineers and scientists must be implemented at any cost. Ramasamy Mudaliyar had never supported a 'sea based' channel, but only a land based channel and he was also emphatic in his opposition to break Rama Sethu. So far, Karunanidhi has never talked about Kamaraj in connection with this issue, but now he is raking up his name with an intention of putting pressure on Congress party. One also wonders which engineers he was talking about, when the experts from various fields have clearly established that the SSCP is a good for nothing project and a disastrous one too!
In a veiled threat, he has said that he was even prepared to lose his Chiefministership and the government, for the sake of the project. In a more threatening tone, he had called upon his party cadres to be ready for a 'massive battle' for the implementation of the project. This is just to indicate that, his party would go to any extent to achieve its goal.
Finally, sounding apologetic and in a tone of begging, he pleaded to the opponents of the project to sanction his birthday wish by clearing the project for implementation. He begged his opponents to award the project as a birthday gift, not for him or his family or his grandchildren or his party, but for the poor people of the state and for the future generation. As a last attempt he begged his opponents to award this project for the so-called service he rendered to Tamil, Tamil people and Tamil Nadu! This again shows the level to which he is prepared to descent down to achieve his objective!
After going down begging to the 'communal' forces on the eve of his birthday, he climbed again on top of the tree of 'pseudo-secularism' on his birthday, probably emboldened by the company of the likes of Pranab Mukherjee, Prakash Karat, D.Raja and Raghuvansh Prasad. At the public meeting organized by the party in the evening at the 'island grounds', he declared that the 'communal forces' (read BJP) must not be allowed to gain grounds, as they would spoil the secular fabric of the country. The patriarch, who brazenly enjoyed everything under the sun during the NDA regime sharing power with the very same 'communal' forces, gave a clarion birthday call to all the so-called secular forces to come together to fight against the 'Sanatana Dharma', which is a danger to the peace and progress of the country! Probably for the first time in his 'Adharmic' political career spanning more than fifty years he has 'publicly' espoused the cause of 'Adharma'.
The political pundits, who have been watching Karunanidhi's politics for the last fifty years are well aware of his antics, mannerisms and his speeches saddled with sarcasm, avarice and audacity. The point to note in the whole 'birthday-script' is that he has repeatedly harped on the so-called 'dream' and 'development', but not a word on how the state would develop and how employment opportunities would be created and how thousands of fishermen and their families would be rehabilitated and how thousands of rare species and organisms would be protected. The script doesn't have answers for the various opinions and objections raised by the experts against the project and its implementation.
On the Tamil New Year Day, when Arcot Veeerasamy said that the first ship would sail through the Sethu Canal on Karunanidhi's birthday, one wondered how it could be possible in such a short span of time! But, no one would have imagined that he would have meant only a symbolic representation. He made it a reality by erecting the stage of the public meeting in the shape of a 'SHIP' and the meeting was held at 'ISLAND' grounds near the 'Bay of Bengal'!
So, what is the motive behind such a prepared birthday script? It might be intended to convince his electorate in future that despite his sincere attempts, he couldn't attain success with regards to SSCP. Or it might be intended to indirectly threaten the Congress, conveying a message of quitting the alliance if it doesn't improve its electoral fortunes in the coming days. Or it might be intended to convey a message of readiness to the BJP for rejoining NDA. Or it might have been prepared with all the three motives of quitting UPA, joining NDA and convincing the party cadres and supporters, which could be done in one stroke! Or it might be a simple tactic of diverting the attention of people from the 'smoking' family feud. What ever said and done, it is very clear that he has taken the people for granted and that is what he has been doing for the last fifty years!
Cheers to Dravidianism! Long live Kalaignar! Doom for Tamils and Tamil Nadu!
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