[Reader-list] Sethusamudram Ship Canal Project - Blueprint for an ecological disaster

[Pawan Durani]

Shuddha ,

Thank you for your concern on Sethu Samudram , besides ecological disaster
it is a matter of faith as well.

Even the developemnt is not going to be of major use, its a financial
disaster.

Pawan




On 9/17/07, Partha Dasgupta <parthaekka at gmail.com> wrote:
>
> Hi,
>
> As an aside, had an offline chat with Pawan when he mentioned that he
> plans to plant a 1000 trees - something so simple yet so important that I
> didn't even remember it.
>
> The basics are simple steps we can take that will make a difference in the
> long run. And yes, I do agree that our shattered environment (including the
> Sethusamudram project) needs a serious rethink as to where the ecology is
> going.
>
> Rgds, Partha
> ..................
>
>  On 9/17/07, Shuddhabrata Sengupta <shuddha at sarai.net> wrote:
>
> > Dear All,
> >
> > This is one of the rare occasions where I think I am in near total
> > agreement with Pawan Durani. So, I thought I would break my silence.
> > Thank you Pawan for the links that you have sent.
> >
> > I think that the Sethusamudram Ship Canal Project is indeed a blueprint
> > for the unfolding of a human tragedy and an ecological disaster. And I
> > think it ranks along with the Narmada Dam Project as a plan that is
> > deeply inimical to the interests and livelihoods of the people who will
> > be affected by it most, namely local fisher folk (for whom the region is
> > an age old natural fishing commons).
> >
> > I see no reason why ancient fishing practices and the delicate natural
> > ecology of the region should have to be disrupted just so that
> > Capitalism (in the form of ships carrying containers) and the Indian
> > Navy's ships can gain a few hours while crossing from the west to the
> > east coast of India. If for all these centures, ships have had to round
> > the southern tip of Sri Lanka to move from the Arabian sea to the Bay of
> > Bengal, and traverse the waters of the Indian Ocean region, I do not see
> >   why then the  livelihoods of the inhabitants of the region have to be
> >   suddenly sacrified for them to be able to move faster.I see absolutely
> > nothing wrong in insisting that the ships take the same time that they
> > have always taken?
> >
> > However, I have also watched worthies from the Bharatiya Janata Party,
> > especially, Shri Murli Manohar Joshi, present their 'alternative'
> > project for the Sethusamudram Ship Canal Project over the last few days
> > on television - which is to cut a canal through the southern tip of the
> > Deccan peninsula. And I think that proposal is just as much of a
> > potential human and ecological disaster as  the disruption of the
> > Sethusamudram region. So the new found 'greening' of the BJP, needs to
> > be understood for what it is. Yet another recipe for the displacement of
> > people and the violent disruption of the landscape, on the same scale as
> > Sardar Sarovar project and the proposed scheme to link rivers that was
> > the pet project of the esteeemed erstwhile president of the Indian
> > republic.
> >
> > I would like to point readers on the list to consider the tragic
> > histories of Panama (a state, now a narco-republic, carved out in order
> > to dig a canal) and the Suez canal (over which at least one major
> > military conflict - the Suez crisis of 1956 erupted. I have no doubt
> > that The BJP's recently found enthusiasm for cutting a canal through
> > Southern India will no doubt create  'swadeshi' versions of
> > narco-republicanism, and aggressive military posturing a la Panama and
> > Suez.
> >
> > Also, on a parting note, let us not forget the decision by successive
> > governments, controlled by the Congress or led by the BJP, that did not
> > have any qualms about violating the delicate ecology of the Thar desert
> > with Nuclear explostions, or completely destroying the equally delicate
> > Himalayan glacial environment of Siachen in the part of Jammu and
> > Kashmir occupied by India, by stationing troops, heavy artillery and
> > continuing what must be one of the most tragic, bizarre, violent and
> > wasteful military engagements with landscape in the history of the
> > modern world.
> >
> > So, yes let us all demand that the Sethusamudram region be left alone,
> > let us demand that no more nuclear explosions or tests ever take place
> > in the Thar desert or anywhere in the landmass of all of South Asia, or
> > in the Lop Nor plateau in Tibet, and let us demand also a unilateral
> > ceasefire and troop withdrawal from Siachen, and let us demand immediate
> > cessation of the Sardar Saroval Project on the river Narmada and that
> > the river linking project be abandoned. I would be absolutely willing to
> > assent to all these demands, and while doing so, I would also demand
> > that those who took the decisions to conduct Nuclear Tests in Pokhran in
> >
> > India (in 1974 and in 1998) and in the Chagai Hills in Pakistan (in
> > 1998) or on the Lop Nor plateau in Tiber offer uconditional apologies to
> > the people of India, Pakistan and Tibet (and to all peoples in Asia) for
> >
> > the serious damage that these tests caused to the ecology of South and
> > Central Asia.
> >
> > I sincerely hope that all of you will agree with me.
> >
> > regards
> >
> > Shuddha
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > Pawan Durani wrote:
> >
> > > http://tamilinfoservice.com/manitham/environment/sscp/article/4.htm
> > >
> > > http://www.tamilnation.org/diaspora/tamilnadu/050404sethu.htm
> > >
> > > http://www.greensl.net/campaigns003.php
> > >
> > > http://hitxp.wordpress.com/2007/07/01/a-blunder-called-sethusamudram/
> > >
> > >
> > > Where are all those who had been talking about ecological disaster
> > during
> > > Narmada Dam project ? Why are they silent ?  Where are the
> > activists  and
> > > the film makers ?
> > >
> > > I do understand their problems and the "compulsions".
> > >
> > > God Bless !
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