What is Sethusamudram Project?
No:1. Sethusamudram is a shipping canal project, which
involves digging and dredging 83 km-long shipping canal in shallow waters
linking Palk Strait and the Gulf of Mannar.
No:2. The canal is located in waters between the
Indian State of Tamil Nadu and Sri Lanka.
No:3. The canal was originally conceived by Alfred
Dundas Taylor in 1860, but was not implemented.
No:4. The project was approved by the GOI in 1997 and
was inaugurated in 2005.
No:5. But religious and environmental concerns were
raised which delayed the project.
No:6. Religious concern was the protection of Ram
Sethu which is located on the way of the canal.
No:7. After addressing these concerns the project is
being implemented now and may be completed by 2024. The total present cost of
the project is Rs. 30000 crores.
No:8. The project when completed would save eight
hours of shipping time for ships crossing East to West or vice versa.
No:9. The ship will not have to move around the entire
Sri Lanka Coast for moving East-West.
What is its Strategic Importance over China?
No:1. In recent years China has made huge investments
in developing port infrastructure in Hambantota and Colombo port city project
in Colombo port. China wants to make its strategic presence in Sri Lanka by
developing Colombo port city on the patters of Singapore. China’s strategic
presence in Sri Lanka is a major security concern for India. Therefore India’s
presence through the canal project would balance China’s presence in Sri Lanka.
India will have additional monitoring of Chinese activities in the region.
No:2. At present majority of the ships from Africa,
Europe or the Middle East headed for the Pacific region pass through the Sri
Lanka ports. After development of the Sethusamudram project, these foreign
ships would use shorter routes through the canal. This would undermine the
economic significance of Sri Lankan Ports, where China is investing funds. So
the operation of these ports may not be a lucrative business for China and Sri
Lanka in the future.
No:3. In short, Sethusamudram project would give a
considerable strategic advantage to India over China.
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