This is a tribute to Kumar Chellappan, Sr. Correspondent of The Pioneer who has brought out this brilliant piece of investigative journalism drawing attention of Hon'ble SC and Govt. of Indiia to Sri Lanka's view of the Sethusamudram Shipping Channel Project. Setusamudram hey kaarasthaan (a Marathi word which means: conspiratorial place!)
Ramasetu is world treasure, an extraordinary monument of human endeavour to protect dharma and now there is increasing recognition of an area of study called sacred ecology. The memory of Sri Rama exemplified by Ramasetu is a sacred, abiding memory.
A responsible government should be responsive to India's vital interests in safeguarding and promoting neighbourly relations with Sri Lanka. India has to take the lead to constitute an Indian Ocean Community with Setubandha, Ramasetu as the connecting link among the regional nations along the Indian Ocean Rim.
Kalyanaraman
From: Prof. Shantha Hennayake
Date: Mon, Apr 1, 2013 at 10:08 PM
Subject: Re: SETHUSAMUDARM
To: Kumar Chellappan
Dear Kumar,
I was the Deputy Chairman of the Sri Lanka Cabinet Appointed Expert Committee to study the SSCP and to prepare a report for the government.
Annex below is the Executive Summary of the Report.
The full report is published by Vijitha Yapa Publishers in Sri Lanka.
Regards
Executive Summary
Introduction
This executive summary provides Sri Lanka’s concerns over the SSCP and proposes several recommendations to remedy these concerns. These concerns and recommendations came from the Sri Lankan scientists who served in the Sri Lanka expert group appointed by the Government of Sri Lanka.
Sri Lankan Expert Group has noted that the shallow sea through which SSCP is proposed is a unique and sensitive ecosystem and that India has already commenced the dredging of the SSCP in the Palk Bay area.
Overall Concerns
Although the SSCP is located entirely within the Indian side of the international maritime boundary (only a kilometer away), the impacts of the SSCP are not likely to remain within the Indian side of the boundary. Thus the primary concern for Sri Lanka is that the initial dredging activities and indefinite maintenance dredging and subsequent shipping through the channel could have negative impact on Sri Lanka’s maritime environment and resources. Sri Lankan concerns have become even more significant as only insufficient attention has been paid to minimize impacts on the environment and resources on both sides of the maritime boundary.
Sri Lankan experts have noted that the studies, primarily the project document and EIA study, carried out by the Indians prior to the commencement of SSCP are inadequate for a number of reasons. Firstly these studies have not identified and evaluated the full extent of the impacts. More importantly it became clear, that the channel design has not been optimized to for minimum impacts. The most pressing conern for Sri Lanka is that none of the Indian Studies have proposed any mitigation measured for impacts occurring on the Sri Lanka.
Concerns relating to Modelling
Sri Lanka has several concerns relating to the modelling studies carried out by India on the proposed SSCP. Firstly, modelling needs to be backed by better field data to reach levels of accuracy required to satisfy requirement (and quell public disquiet) of such a major undertaking. Secondly, it need to be emphasized that significant increase in volumetric water exchange across Adams bridge due to canal and its impact on ecology of the region has not been studied via Advection dispersion modelling. Sri Lankan modeling studies has proven that there is a significant volumetric exchange of water across the Adams Bridge. Thirdly, Sri Lanka also observed that quantification of maintenance dredging is incomplete. Fourthly, we found that dispersal of fine sediments during dredging has not yet been studied. Fifthly, the absence of a working mathematiccal model prevents any refinements or developments to be examined scientifically. Sixthly, the modeling studies have not taken into consideration the environmental impacts and the mitigatory measures. Sri Lanka believes that Indian modeling studies may have underestimated the impacts and the nature and types of impact of SSCP.
Concerns relating Environment and Fishery Resources
The primary concern of Sri Lanka relating to environment and fishery resources is that the Indian studies have not taken into consideration single environmental impacts on the Sri Lankan side of the International boundary. This is most important as the Gulf of Mannar and Palk Bay lying between the two countries is a unique biologically rich area linking two “Large Marine Ecosystems” and this stretch of the sea is a rich source of all types of fishery resources.
It must be stated that unless we accurately forecast and adequately mitigate impacts of the dredging of the canal could eventually destroy this sensitive and fragile marine ecosystem located between the two countries. Livelihoods of northern and north-western coastal fishing communities in Sri Lanka are mainly dependent on the fishing in the potential impact area on the Sri Lanka side of the Channel. Sri Lanka is also concerned about the lack of clarity on who will compensate for the environmental costs accruing to the poorest sectors of society in northern Sri Lanka due to potential impacts of the SSCP.
The concerns of Sri Lanka revolve around the following major issues.
· Protecting its endangered species
· Protecting its fishery resource
· Protecting its coastal and marine ecosystem diversity
· Protecting the well-being, health and livelihoods of her coastal communities
· Ecosystem integrity of the seas around the island and
· Immediate and long term ecological stability.
Concerns relating to Operations
Sri Lanka is also concerned about the insufficient attention that has been paid to the potential impacts that might occur during the operational period of the SSCP. The primary among them is the prevention of oil spills and formulating contingency plan to deal with accidents. We also insist that attention has to be paid to the detection of slow pollution by leakages and discharges of sewage, bilge and ballast water, oils etc. Lack of clarity on financing of mitigation measures and environmental management plans is also a major concern of Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka likes to emphasize there that it should invariably be involved in the preparation of such an oil spill contingency plan in keeping with the MARPOL convention. The Lack of a Comprehensive Joint Monitoring Mechanism between India and Sri Lanka is also a major concern of Sri Lanka.
Basis for Recommendations
The above concerns have led Sri Lanka to propose a series of recommendations. The recommendations have also taken the following facts into consideration.
· SSCP is located entirely within Indian side of the international boundary.
· The impacts of the SSCP however will affect both sides of the international boundary.
· Indian studies have not taken into account the impacts on the environment and livelihoods of Sri Lankans.
· Dredging of the SSCP has already commenced.
· There is no joint mechanism between the two countries to monitor/review the impacts of the SSCP and to mitigate impacts.
Recommendations on Modeling
Sri Lanka proposed two main recommendations relating to modeling.
1. Collaborative Mathematical modelling between Indian and Sri Lanka authorities will be extremely beneficial in assessing and monitoring the environmental impacts.
2. Sri Lanka has initiated field measuring programme including Directional wave, current etc in the area at the moment which should be used in such modeling.
Recommendations on Environment and Fishery Resources
Sri Lanka proposes the following set of recommendation in relation to environment and fishery resources.
1. Cooperative and continuous monitoring of environmental parameters on the project area on either side of the international maritime boundary during construction and operational periods.
2. Establish a collaborative arrangement to assess the impacts and effectiveness of mitigation measures.
3. Carry out a joint assessment of biodiversity and fishery resources in the region.
4. Carry out a joint assessment of livelihoods dependant on marine resources.
5. Formulate a compensation mechanism for affected communities in Sri Lanka.
Recommendations on Navigational Emergencies
Sri Lanka proposes the following recommendations to be implemented primarily during the operational period.
1. Draw a plan to ensure vessels that cause pollution and oil spillage are identified and necessary compensation mechanisms are established. Sri Lanka should invariably be involved in the preparation of such an oil spill contingency plan in compliance with the MARPOL and other international conventions.
2. Workout modalities to meet the cost of marine pollution and other navigational emergencies.
3. Prepare a joint action plan to deal with potential oil spillages.
Overall Recommendations
Based on the specific recommendations above, Sri Lanka proposes the following overall recommendations for consideration by Indian delegation.
1. Share information on existing studies and collaborate in further studies and assessments.
2. Share monitoring parameters and results and establish a common data base.
3. Establishment and implementation of a joint Environmental Management Plan for Impact Assessment and Monitoring of the project area.
Sri Lanka hope that if these recommendation are implemented both India and Sri Lanka would be immensely benefited by mitigating any adverse environmental impacts of SSCP.
Prof. Shantha K. Hennayake
Deputy Vice-Chancellor
University of Peradeniya
Peradeniya
Sri Lanka
Telephone Office: 081-238-9140/081-239-2304
Telephone Home: 081-238-7204
Mobile: 077-784-0640
Fax: 081-238-9140
Email shanthahennayakeATgmail.com; skhenna1ATsltnet.lk ; dvcATpdn.ac.lk
Skype prof.hennayake
On Mon, Apr 1, 2013 at 2:46 PM, Kumar Chellappan
Dear Professor,
Namastay. I am Kumar, a journalist working with The Pioneer, a leading newspaper published from New Delhi, India (www.dailypioneer.com).
I am based in Chennai and focus on news from Tamil Nadu.
Recently, I came across a news report about SETHUSAMUDRAM SHIPPING CHANNEL PROJECT which mentioned that a team of leading scientists and technical experts from Sri Lanka which studied the impact of the SSCP on environment has come to the conclusion that this project is not vuiable,environmentally and ecologically for both India and Sri Lanka. Since the mail I received was brief nad is yet to be published in India, I thought of writing a news item about the same. I picked up your email id from the internet.
Sir,
Please tell me the details of the findings of the scientific committee which studied the impact of the SSCP and your conclusion.. Since I do not have much scientific background, I need only details which could be comprehended by an average reader. I would like to know whether the govt of India had sought the concurrence of the Sri Lankan govt for launching the project as stipulated by the UN Laws on Sea.
Regards
Kumar