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The Project
Sethusamudram Ship Channel Project (SSCP) envisages dredging a ship channel across the Palk Straits between India and Sri Lanka.The project will allow ships sailing between the east and west costs of India to have a straight passage through India's territorial waters, instead of having to go around Sri Lanka.
Two channels will be created:
One across Adam's Bridge (the chain of islets and shallows linking India with Sri Lanka, also called 'Ram Sethu') South - east of Pamban Island;
Another through the shallows of Palk Bay, deepening the Palk straits.
The total length of these two channels would be 89 Kms.
The project was conceived as early as 1860 by Alfred Dundas Taylor, it received approval of the Indian government only recently.
The controversy
The project will have to cut across the Adam's bridge, which the Hindus believe was the bridge that Rama built to cross the ocean to reach Lanka. It is therefore regarded as a sacred relic- its destruction considered sacrilege.
The pros
The project is expected to save about a USD 5 mn/year in fuel savings
Though forex saving estimates are not available, they would be over and above the USD 5 mn/year mentioned above.
The cons
The project may become uneconomical what with the construction costs touching USD 550 mn.
The project may be ecologically harmful due to large scale sedimentation witnessed in this region of the ocean. Yet untouched marine life and coral reefs can also be damaged.
NASA's statement says the bridge's unique curvature and composition by age reveals that it is man-made so the bridge may be of historical value though the government denies it.
The project may also be endangered by Tsunamis, known to occur in this region.
