ISSUES INVOLVED IN SSCP:

FINANCIAL VIABILITY & PROFITABILITY:

The need for infrastructure projects & its benefits are not judged on the basis of their income or profits alone.Such infrastructure projects are an essential pre-requisite for development of a nation's economy.In a developing country like ours ,if need be government has to step in to meet the viability gap.Govn. sources quote that the project will earn operating profit from its very first year .the project will definitely see mammoth profit generation.
It will lead to substantial savings for the shipping companies,exporters & importers ,manufacturers & trade with reduced maritime transportation cost would lead to efficient use of capital.
It will facilitates coastal movement of domestic cargo, leading to greater employment generation in the ports & industries located in thier hinterlands.
Fishermen will be directly benefited due to the potential for development of fishing harbours (bet. nagapattinam & tuticorin) with proper landing & storage facilities.
Transshipment of indian cargo in foreign shores will reduce greatly.IT will lead to considerable savings & earnings of foreign exchanges.

WITH REGARD TO BIOSPHERE RESERVE:
It was feared that the creation of the channel will affect the coral reefs in the Gulf of Mannar & the mangroves, off Vedaranyam on the Indian coast.the coral reefs are the breeding grounds for fish for entire region.
However,the creation if the channel will not have any adverse impact on the biosphere reserves.it does not envisage any dredging in the Gulf of Mannar except in the southern reaches of 'Adams Bridge' for a length of 6KM & width of 300m.therefore ,no dredging is required in the Biosphere reserves or in its vicinity.
the proposed dredging location in Adams Bridge is about 20Kms from the nearest island forming a part of Gulf of mannar marine national park which is more than safe distance from the coral reefs. as channel us at least 20Kms away from the breeding grounds there will be no impact on any of these due to dredging operations.
Scientific evidence through modeling & tracer studies show that there would be no movement of sediments from either the dredging or dumping locations towards the indian or lankan coast. the choice itself minimizes the impact of turbidity levels in dredging locations.

STRATEGIC IMPORTANCE TO INDIA:
THE CHANNEL WILL BECOME AN INVALUABLE ASSET FOR OUR NATIONAL DEFENCE & SECURITY BECAUSE OF QUICKER ACCESS BETWEEN THE COASTS.
IT IS ESSENTIAL FOR INDIA TO SECURE A FORMIDABLE HOLD OVER THE INDIAN OCEAN IN THE FUTURE.INDIAN OCEAN IS THE CORRIDOR THROUGH WHICH 85% OF THE FUTURE OIL WOULD BE PASSING.THE ENERGY NEEDS OF CHINA, JAPAN& SOUTH KOREA
DEPEND ON THIS. HENCE TO ACHIEVE ITS GLOBAL ASPIRATIONS INDIA NEEDS TO PROVE ITSELF A FORMIDABLE POWER IN THE REGION. THIS DEMANDS INDEPENDENT & STEALTH MOVEMENT OF ITS ARMED FORCES. AT PRESENT ,IT IS NOT POSSIBLE AS INDIAN VESSELS HAVE TO CICUMSCRIBE SRILANKA.

ALSO IT IS PERTINENT TO NOTE THAT CHINA HAS ALREADY SET UP A ELECTRONIC LISTENING POST IN COCO ISLAND ,VERY NEAR THE NORTH ANDAMAN ISLANDS.
U.S ALREADY HAS A BASE IN INDIAN OCEAN IN CHAGOS ARCHIPELAGO.
WITH THE PRESENT & FUTURE SUPERPOWERS BREATHING DOWN INDIA'S NECK , IT IS ALL THE MORE IMPERATIVE FOR INDIA TO CONSOLIDATE & DICTATE OVER THE INDIAN OCEAN IN ORDER TO FULFILL ITS ASPIRATION OF BECOMING A GLOBAL PLAYER IN THE WORLD POLITICS.

IT IS IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT IT IS NOT TOO FAR ,WHEN ASIA IS GOING TO WITNESS A BIPOLAR CLOD WAR LIKE STRUGGLE FOR ASIAN SUPREMACY BETWEEN INDIA & CHINA.
ALL THESE MAKE SSCP A STRATEGICALLY IMPORTANT AREA FOR INDIA IN ACHIEVING A SUPER POWER STATUS IN THE FUTURE

http://tamilnation.org/intframe/indian_ocean/sethusamudram/index.htm
http://tamilnation.org/forum/sivaram/041006.htm


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