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project
by Saman Indrajith and Dasun Edirisinghe
Local environmentalists reiterating their strong opposition to the
controversial Sethusamudram project in the Palk Straits, which received
the Indian environment ministry's approval, said they would not permit the
project to go ahead, while the government was entangled in a bureaucratic
mess.
Environmentalists blamed the government for its inability to conduct a
proper study on the controversial project. "Not only the government's role,
but that of main Opposition UNP too in this crucial issue is not serious
enough. Those who are responsible are keeping mum and know nothing of
the consequences the controversial project would bring about,"
environmental lawyer Jagath Gunawardena said.
"The project demands a top level environmental impact assessment. The
Indian government had expressed its willingness to cooperate with Sri
Lanka to study the possible environmental impact of the proposed project.
But our government has done nothing significant in this regard."
Some reports published by Indian environmentalists and NGOs have
warned of possible environmental degradation if the Palk Strait is dredged
to implement the project. The $400m Sethusamudram Ship Canal project
involves digging a 152km, 300m-wide channel through the Palk Strait. If it
is created, it will threaten the rich marine ecology in the tropical seas of the
Palk Strait and Mannar Gulf", Gunawardena said.
The area is home to rare and endangered species of sea turtle, dolphin,
dugongs and whales. Corals and ecologically significant plants and algae
are also found there. This canal would destroy the natural barrier between
the Bay of Bengal and the shallower waters of the Palk Strait, he added.
"A canal would disrupt currents in the area, endanger coral reefs and lead
to rising sea levels, causing the inundation of Jaffna district," he added.
Environmentalist of the Green Movement of Sri Lanka (GMSL) Bandu
Ranga Kariyawasam said: "We do not have a complete report or document
of the impacts of the Sethu project. We have joined hands with the
Greenpeace International to fight against this project. The Greenpeace
International Indian branch has lined up 43 Indian environmental
organisations to voice their protests against the Sethu project. We plan to
bring in a Greenpeace expert on May 30 to further study and prepare a
comprehensive report on this. After the report we plan to take the issue to
the Supreme Court."
Environment and Natural Resources Minister A. H. M. Fowzie said that with
the assistance of the Foreign Affairs Ministry a committee was appointed to
look into the issues related to the project. The committee pointed out that
there could be possible adverse impacts of the ship canal project and
recommended further studies of the impact with the collaboration of Indian
government.
The Foreign Ministry is currently handling further studies on the project.
The project would disrupt fishing waters vital to 138 Sri Lankan and Indian
fishing communities, many of which are still recovering from tsunami
damage. Construction of repair yards and other onshore services to
support the canal will also displace other fishing hamlets, according to the
canal project's environmental impact reports compiled by Indian
environmentalists.
A top level Fisheries Ministry official said that a committee comprising
secretaries of the ministries of fisheries, environment, defence, science
and technology, ports and shipping and foreign affairs has been appointed
to study the issue. Parallel to the inter ministerial committee another
committee of experts had been appointed by the foreign ministry to compile
a report on the ship canal project. "But no one is working on the issue," he
said.
Chairman of the committee of experts, Dr. Kapila Perera declined to
comment on the progress of the committee, and said that only the foreign
ministry is entitled to comment.
When contacted for comments, a spokesperson of the Foreign Ministry's
media unit said that a serious of discussions among local and Indian
experts were held, and another round is scheduled to be held next month.
Last week a notice posted on the website of the Indian Ministry of
Environment and Forests made a bland statement to this effect. Under the
heading projects cleared state-wise, the web posting said, "Project No
J-16011/6/99-IA.III Sethusamudram Ship Canal Project in Tamilnadu has
been given environmental clearance".
Indian Union Minister for Shipping T.R.Baalu told a media conference held
in Chennai last week (17) that the Union government had started the
project following its environment ministry's clearance and the next step
would be to place a project report before the Union Cabinet, the Indian
press reported on Monday
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