Sethu Samudram Canal Project – Indefensible on all Fronts

Nodal Agency:
During 1997 Ministry of Surface Transport made Tuticorin Port Trust [TPT], which celebrated its Silver Jubilee on last 10-07-2004, as Nodal Agency for this project.

Socio-Economic aspects

(a) Government claim

• Canal will help save 20 per cent of voyage time and increase trips by 20 per cent.
• The channel will establish a continuous navigable sea route around peninsular coast within the Indian territorial waters, reduce shipping distance by about 254-424 nautical miles and voyage time of about 21-36 hrs as also the attendant operating costs
• The project will provide employment opportunities and avenues of additional income through establishment of small ancillary industries. The project will also trigger development of coastal trade between the ports south and north of Rameswaram consequently reducing the load and congestion on railways and roadways.
• Development of minor ports; spurt in export of marine products from the coastal districts; easy movement of coal to thermal power stations.
• The project will help in saving considerable foreign exchange through reduction in oil import bill and generate revenue income from dues levied on ships transiting the channel, which will add to the national economy.
• Average time saved per voyage will be 25 hours (average saving in distance 300 nautical miles and speed assumed as 12 knots). Average amount saved per voyage is Rs. 5.36 lakhs (2003)
• According to the technical feasibility and economical analysis studies carried out by the Shipping Corporation of India, a savings of Rs 80.71 cr. per year is envisaged if the canal passage is free. However, the pilotage and other charges levied have not been taken into account.
• The channel will be of very great importance from national defense and security point of view.  The revenue from naval and coastal traffic will go up adding to the direct benefit

(b) NGO and Expert contention

• Revenue-wise the project will not be a profitable one. For example, as per Government of India, the 21-36-hour voyage time can be saved by SSCP. Here we have to look at the following limitations and constraints: a] Only 30 feet draft ships can be allowed to pass through SSCP. b] Ships have to reduce their speed to half, while sailing through SSCP.
• The anticipated saving of 25 hours of voyage may not materialise as the travel would need more stoppings, comply with many formalities and speed limits. The ships will have to pay royalty. Besides these, traveling in the canal between October and December would not be safe owing to the weather conditions. The canal will not be for all seasons.
• Practically speaking, a ship will take at least 20-24 hours to cross SSCP. There may not be any net saving in travel time.
• Ships have to pay toll charges for crossing and a pilot boat with payment is needed to lead the vessel.
• Former Tuticorin port officials say that hardly 2 or 3 ships would be crossing daily? What kind of revenue will this generate for the project to be viable?
• There are 138 villages and towns spread in 5 districts through the coastal area from Gulf of Mannar to Palk Strait in Tamil Nadu State. The main livelihood activities of the fishermen residing in the villages adjoining to the coastal area are (i) fishing, (ii) seaweed collection, (iii) ‘chanks’ collection, (iv) coral mining, (v) fire wood collection and (vi) agriculture. If this project is implemented, socio-economic problem will multiply due to unemployment. This has not been factored in the NEERI report.

Environmental and other aspects

• The hydrographic survey of Palk Bay and Palk strait area has been carried out by the National Hydrographic Office only for the period during January - February 2004. The Rapid EIA prepared by NEERI is insufficient and a comprehensive EIA should be conducted in all seasons for at least a year.
• Sides of the canal cannot be lined or protected by any artificial wall; a strong tidal wave is enough to level the canal.
• Canal could facilitate movement of fishes and other biota from the Bay of Bengal to the Indian Ocean and vice versa. By this way, the entry of oceanic and alien species into the Palk Bay and the Gulf of Mannar, as also the dispersal of endemic species outside the Palk Bay and the Gulf of Mannar could occur. This could be disastrous for the protected ecosystem GOM.
• There will be a dredge of sea floor of 12.8 meter deep, 300 meter wide for 2-way traffic. If this happens to be sudden, tilt in the sea bed, may cause numerous violent process like a major change in drift, possible change in gravitational pull
• Whole SSCP area is biologically rich and rated among the highly productive sea of the World. Project implementation may destruct coral reefs which, in turn, would tend to cause High sea tides, Surges, Hurricane, cyclone etc
• Even though the NEERI reports deny the existence of archaeological structures under the seabed, these need to be investigated further. Otherwise, after the dredging, there is possibility of loosing the archeological treasures that may be lying beneath the sea.
• The dangers posed by the project violate the UN Law of Sea Convention, 1982 that deal with Mouths of Rivers, Bays, Conservation of the living resources, Highly Migratory species, Marine Mammals, fishing rights protection, Marine Environment, Archaeological and historical objects.
• Though the canal may be dug in Indian waters, the project will have significant impact on Sri Lanka. What kind of dialogue has been held with that country?
• NEERI report suggests strict vigilance of crude oil tankers to avoid oil spill in the sea. No remedial measure suggested if oil spill does happen.
• NEERI report suggests that a trained pilot or environmental watcher should be on board all the ships to watch marine mammals. This is impractical particularly during night or on rainy / dark cloudy days.
• Consequent upon the opening up of the petroleum products large number of storage tanks would be set up on the East Coast. This could result in movement of hundreds of small/medium sized oil tankers in the Gulf of Mannar causing serious damage to the flora and fauna.