Page 276 - Failure to Triumph - Journey of A Student

West have had to navigate around Sri Lanka to reach India’s eastern coast. Eminent British
geographer Major James Rennell, who surveyed the region as a young officer in late 18th century,
suggested that a “navigable passage could be maintained by dredging the strait of Ramisseram”.
However little notice was given to his proposal, perhaps because it came from “so young and an

unknown officer”, and the idea was only revived 60 years later. Efforts were made in 1838 to dredge
the canal, but did not succeed in keeping the passage navigable for any vessels except those with a
shallow draft.

Possibly conceived in 1860 by Commander A D Taylor of the Indian Marines, the project has been
reviewed many times over the years but no decision was ever made. It was part of the election
manifestos of all political parties during elections. The Union Government of India appointed the
Sethu Samudram Project Committee in 1955, headed by Dr. A Ramasamy Mudaliar, which was
charged with the duty of examining the desirability of the project. After evaluating the costs and

benefits, this committee found the project feasible and viable. However it has strongly recommended
land based passage instead of channel cutting through Ram’s Bridge due to several advantages of land
based passage like shifting sandbanks, ability to prevent navigational hazards etc. Several reviews of
the proposals followed. Finally, the United Progressive Alliance Government of India headed by
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh announced the inauguration of the project on July 2, 2005.

Opposition parties are demanding implementation of Sethusamudram canal project using one of the
five alternative alignments considered by Government earlier without damaging Ramsetu structure.

Indian government has constituted nine committees before Independence and five committees after
independence. Most of the committees have suggested a land based alignment across Rameswaram
island. None of them have suggested alignment across Rams Bridge or Rama Setu.

Benefits

The strategic advantages to India derive from obtaining a navigable sea route close to the coast, with
a reduction in travel distance of more than 350 nautical miles (650 km) (for larger ships). The project
is expected to provide a boost to the economic and industrial development of coastal Tamil Nadu.

The project will be of particular significance to Tuticorin harbour, which has the potential to
transform itself into a nodal port. The State Government has announced its proposal to develop 13
minor ports, including Ennore, Cuddalore, Nagapattinam, Thondi, Valinokam, Kolachel and
Kanyakumari.

Development of the canal and ports is also expected to provide increased maritime security for
Tamil Nadu.

Other Arguments

Safety, requirement of constant dredging, questions arising on its suitability for heavy ships, time
spent due to slow speed that would be necessary for passage in the canal, cost aspects were some of
the arguments put forth by Captain (retired) H Balakrishnan of the Indian Navy, had to say about the
project in an interview to Shobha Warrier of Rediff. In the case of the Suez and the Panama canals,