Indian project poses threat to Jaffna and Mannar - EFL tells Lankan government to protest By Damitha Hemachandra
Environmentalists yesterday raised fears of serious consequences for Sri Lanka and especially Jaffna from India's proposed 50 billion rupee Sethusamudram Ship Canal Project which involves the development of a navigable channel from the Gulf of Mannar to the Bay of Bengal through Palk bay.
Environmental Foundation Limited (EFL) spokesman Vinod Munasinghe said the heavy dredging required to create a shipping canal through the Rameswaram Island could disturb the water balance of the Jaffna Peninsula and threaten the fragile coast line of the Gulf of Mannar. "The geography of the Gulf of Mannar and the seabed around is very shallow and the Adam's Bridge, which stretches through Palk Strait too is a very shallow sand dune. These shallow sand dunes act as a barrier against the water flow", the EFL spokesman said.
Dredging these sand barriers to create a 12.8-meter deep and 300-meter wide two-way channel could destroy the sand dunes and make the Sri Lankan shores and Gulf of Mannar more vulnerable to sea erosion, he warned.
Mr. Munasinghe said sea erosion however was not the most threatening.
"The water levels of the Jaffna peninsula are lower than the sea level and heavy dredging could disturb the water system of the peninsula. There is a threat of ground water in the Jaffna Peninsular turning saline with the construction of the channel," he said.
Meanwhile the constant stream of marine traffic too could increase the sea erosion.
The movement of ships so close to the land, with a very sensitive geology could create heavy water thrusts increasing the threat of sea erosion, he said.
The EFL spokesman said the project could also destroy coral reefs and sand barriers, which in turn could cause high sea tides and change of tide with unexpected consequences.
The Indian government gave the green light for the project last Thursday under the Sethusamudram Corporation Ltd and time was running short for the Sri Lankan authorities to make their protests.
"The main problem with the Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) of the Sethusamudram project is that it does not involve Sri Lanka, one of the biggest stake holders. Although an EIA is meant to consult all the risk holders of a project the National Environment Engineering research Institute of Nagpur had failed to consult the Sri Lankan government on its implications towards Sri Lanka," Mr. Munasinghe said.
The project includes the development of a ship canal to connect the Gulf of Mannar and Palk Bay to enable the movement of ships between the East and West coast of India through a continuous navigable sea route around the peninsula within India's own territorial waters. The channel will save about 400 nautical miles and up to 36 hours of sailing time for ships between the East and the West coasts.
Environmental Foundation Limited (EFL) spokesman Vinod Munasinghe said the heavy dredging required to create a shipping canal through the Rameswaram Island could disturb the water balance of the Jaffna Peninsula and threaten the fragile coast line of the Gulf of Mannar. "The geography of the Gulf of Mannar and the seabed around is very shallow and the Adam's Bridge, which stretches through Palk Strait too is a very shallow sand dune. These shallow sand dunes act as a barrier against the water flow", the EFL spokesman said.
Dredging these sand barriers to create a 12.8-meter deep and 300-meter wide two-way channel could destroy the sand dunes and make the Sri Lankan shores and Gulf of Mannar more vulnerable to sea erosion, he warned.
Mr. Munasinghe said sea erosion however was not the most threatening.
"The water levels of the Jaffna peninsula are lower than the sea level and heavy dredging could disturb the water system of the peninsula. There is a threat of ground water in the Jaffna Peninsular turning saline with the construction of the channel," he said.
Meanwhile the constant stream of marine traffic too could increase the sea erosion.
The movement of ships so close to the land, with a very sensitive geology could create heavy water thrusts increasing the threat of sea erosion, he said.
The EFL spokesman said the project could also destroy coral reefs and sand barriers, which in turn could cause high sea tides and change of tide with unexpected consequences.
The Indian government gave the green light for the project last Thursday under the Sethusamudram Corporation Ltd and time was running short for the Sri Lankan authorities to make their protests.
"The main problem with the Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) of the Sethusamudram project is that it does not involve Sri Lanka, one of the biggest stake holders. Although an EIA is meant to consult all the risk holders of a project the National Environment Engineering research Institute of Nagpur had failed to consult the Sri Lankan government on its implications towards Sri Lanka," Mr. Munasinghe said.
The project includes the development of a ship canal to connect the Gulf of Mannar and Palk Bay to enable the movement of ships between the East and West coast of India through a continuous navigable sea route around the peninsula within India's own territorial waters. The channel will save about 400 nautical miles and up to 36 hours of sailing time for ships between the East and the West coasts.
| Permalink | E-mail this post 
