A new twist in tale of the Sethusamudram Project

A new chapter of "security implication" is added in the Ramsethu project controversy on Thursday, when the Director General of the Indian Coast Guard said the canal could pose environmental and security threat to the country.

The D.G. of Indian Coast Guard, vice admiral R F Contractor expressed his concerns on the Ramsethu and said the project would bring the country on the verge of threat from both natural as well as man-made catastrophe.

“The Sethusamudram project could pose a security threat to the country. There are chances of militants using this channel. There are security implications because of the closeness of the India-Sri Lanka maritime boundary," Vice Admiral Contractor told reporters in New Delhi ahead of the 31st anniversary of the ICG.

He said the close proximity due to the maritime boundary between India and Sri Lanka, where the problem already existing could create a danger to the security of our country. Although he rejected to say whether he had got any response from the government but said, “We have conveyed these implications to the government. Complications are there and I am sure these will be addressed.”

To increase navigability between India’s east and west coasts, the project had been initiated. But the RSS and BJP have been opposing it on the religious ground. In their views dredging of the strait will damage the Ram Setu- the bridge, which they believe was made by Ram’s monkey army to find a way and attack on Lanka.

Few days ago the chief of naval staff, Admiral Sureesh Mehta, had said in Chennai that the project would not be of much help to the naval fleet. Warships would be too large for the eastern and western fleets to deploy vessels through the channel without having to sail around Sri Lanka.

Interestingly the BJP, which is making so noise on the Ramsethu project, had given its approval on paper when it was in power in 2003.

The project however was kept in cold bag for some year and it has got some forward momentum only in the last two years when Shipping and Surface Transport Minister T R Baalu started supplementing the project his full back.

Environmental specialists are also opposing the Sethusamudram Project citing it would damage the feeble ecosystem of the area. Even the Navy will think twice in using it, due to probable sub surface threat during wartime.

Meanwhile Supreme Court has stayed the project till the resolution of all contentious issues does not come out.

Director General’s remark will certainly have brought an added advantage to the BJP. Ways of thinking and views may be different, but the motives are same and that to stop the construction of bridge. For Vice Admiral, the Sethusamudram Project, SSCP is a security threat to the country, while for the Saffron Party and its ideological mentor, RSS it is associated with their religious sentiments.

The observation noticeable by Contractor will for sure to complicate the matter for the Congress, which is so desperate to resolve the controversy.

Certainly the Centre has a tough day ahead when it comes on deciding whether to continue the project or back off. But one thing is clear, it would not be easy for the Congress led UPA government to score out the security concern in one move. The security concern can have critical implications on the already battered image of the ruling regime.