Author:
Publication: Deccan Chronicle
Date: February 17, 2008
Retired Naval Captain H. Balakrishnan on Saturday
said the implementation of the Sethusamudram Shipping Canal Project (SSCP)
would pose a threat to the country's national security as maritime terrorism
and sea piracy were getting inter-mingled. Speaking to reporters at a press
conference organised by the Coastal Action Network, Mr Balakrishnan, who has
three decades of experience at sea, endorsed the recent remarks by Coast Guard
vice-admiral Rusi Contractor that the shipping canal project on completion
would pose a threat to national security.
On the economic aspect, the retired naval
officer said a ship would incur a loss of Rs 19.4 lakh for a trip between
Kolkata and Tuticorin via SSCP. Similarly a ship will lose about US $ 60,000
for a voyage between Eden and Singapore. "One cannot justify an expenditure
to the tune of Rs 2,400 crore for a time-saving measure," Mr. Balakrishnan
said. The canal is likely to encourage only vessels with a carrying capacity
of about 30,000 tonnes, but currently the merchant ships are handling a cargo
of more than 60,000 tonnes.
And oil ships, whose volume is high, will
also avoid SSCP, he pointed out. Further, SSCP is an open channel and there
is always a possibility of the LTTE setting up sea mines.
He also emphasised that the LTTE factor had
a direct bearing on the safety of shipping navigation through SSCP. The banned
outfit had control over most of the coastal waters of North Sri Lanka, he
added.
