What is the Sethusamudram Project that Stalin wants revived now?
The Sethusamudram Project. Oil painting by an AI bot
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin has moved a resolution in the state assembly seeking the revival of the controversial Sethusamudram Project. The canal project was put on hold by the Government of India in 2007.
What is the Sethusamudram Project? The Sethusamudram Project is a proposed shipping canal project in India that would connect the Gulf of Mannar and the Palk Strait, bypassing the traditional shipping route through the Palk Strait.
The project would involve the construction of a shipping canal through the shallow waters of the Palk Bay and the Gulf of Mannar, which would reduce the distance and time required for ships to travel between the east and west coasts of India.
The project has been controversial, with concerns about its environmental impact and the potential damage to the Ram Setu, an ancient natural bridge that is considered sacred by Hindus.
The Sethusamudram Project has been controversial since its inception, with many groups raising concerns about its potential impact on the environment and the Ram Setu.
Some of the main issues with the project include:
1. Environmental impact: Critics argue that the construction of the canal would cause significant damage to the marine ecosystem of the Palk Bay and the Gulf of Mannar. They say that the dredging and blasting required for the construction of the canal would harm the coral reefs and other marine life in the area.
2. Damage to Ram Setu: Some Hindus consider Ram Setu to be sacred and believe that the bridge was built by Lord Rama himself. They argue that the construction of the canal would cause damage to the bridge and desecrate a religious site.
3. Economic viability: Critics question the economic viability of the project, arguing that the cost of construction would be high and the benefits would be limited. They say that the canal would not be able to accommodate large ships and would not offer a significant reduction in the distance travelled by ships, compared to the existing route through the Palk Strait.
4. Technical feasibility: There are also concerns about the technical feasibility of the project, with critics arguing that the canal would not be able to handle the large tidal differences and would be susceptible to silting and other issues.
5. Political and legal disputes: The project has been on hold since 2007 following a legal dispute involving the Indian government and the opposition party, which challenged the project on the grounds that it would cause damage to the Ram Setu.
6. Security: Critics also argue that the project would increase the security risk for India, as it would provide an opening for foreign ships to enter into the Bay of Bengal, making it easier for hostile forces to attack India's eastern coast.
The project was stopped by the Government of India in August 2007, due to the above-mentioned reasons and others.
What is Ram Setu? Ram Setu, also known as Adam's Bridge, is a chain of limestone shoals that runs between the Indian mainland and Sri Lanka. According to Hindu mythology, the bridge was built by the monkey-god Hanuman and his army to help Lord Rama, an incarnation of the god Vishnu, rescue his wife Sita from the demon king Ravana, who had abducted her and taken her to Lanka.
The bridge is considered sacred by Hindus and is believed to be the physical manifestation of a bridge mentioned in the ancient Indian epic, the Ramayana. The bridge is also considered a valuable ecological zone and a navigational hazard.
Ram Setu and the Sethusamudram Project in pop culture: In 2022, Akshay Kumar starred in a Hindi film called Ram Setu, directed by Abhishek Sharma. The film stars Akshay Kumar as an atheist archaeologist, who begins believing in Lord Ram after going on an expedition to find the origins of the Ram Setu.
The Sethusamudram Canal Project is also at the centre of the movie Ram Setu, but unfortunately, like most Akshay Kumar movies of late, the hero ends up bigger than the story by the end of it.
The Sethusamudram Project now: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin recently said that the Sethusamudram Project should be 'revived'. Stalin moved a resolution in the Tamil Nadu Assembly seeking the revival of the project. The BJP had opposed the project and it was put on hold in 2007 by the government.
(This story was written by an Artificial Intelligence bot and edited by a human on the DailyO Editorial staff.)