India Sitting On Ecological Time Bomb: Loses 333 Acres of Forest Daily

India records for a great amount of forest cover being lost. The extent of forest land being diverted across the nation on an average is 135 hectares (around 333 acres) per day, reported Rohith B R for TNN. These diversions are done stating various reasons like coal mines, industrial or river valley projects, thermal power plants, etc, revealed recent data acquired through RTI from the ministry of environment and forests by environmentalists.

The blatant truth is that large tracts of forest land are being handed over to public and private agencies who claim to use the forest land for development projects.

The figure is said to be much higher as the analysis relates only to projects which have sought more than 40 hectares of area, as per Members of the Environment Impact Assessment Resources and Response Centre (eRc), who were instrumental in compiling the data.

Karnataka is one of the states that has been diverting forest land, informed Ritwik Dutta, an advocate with Legal Initiative for Forest and Environment (LIFE). He said that “Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, Arunachal Pradesh and Jharkhand are some of the other states which are into largescale diversions. We are compiling state-specific data on the extent of land being diverted,” as reported by TNN.

Dutta is also of the opinion that more awareness is needed among the people to challenge such projects, and they should appeal before the National Green Tribunal (NGT) against diversions.

Further as per Neeraj Vagholikar of Kalpavriksh, an environmental action group, in spite of India losing existing forest cover, the central government releases figures on increase in green cover every year. He said that “The trick is that the forest department manages to add compensatory afforestation programmes to the total forest cover. In reality, such forest cover is virtually non-existent; nobody is sure whether such programmes will be implemented in future or not,” as reported by TNN.

The forest cover deteriorating at such an alarming rate is an indication of feeble laws that fail to protect the green reserves, inturn harming the environment. It is time the government addresses the issues before it is too late. Quoting the great Mahatama Gandhi “Earth provides enough to satisfy every man’s needs, but not every man’s greed.”

Green school in Bali, Indonesia.

 

It provides its students with an education about the amazing environment that we live in. It is a holistic and relevant education. During the construction, only bamboo, elephant grass and clay were used. Cement was used just in some places in the foundation. The central and the most important building is the “heart of the school.” It is perhaps the largest building in the world built entirely from bamboo. Its dimensions are 18 meters high and 64 meters long. General area of the school includes a variety of structures: apartment buildings, classrooms, office building, and cafes. The school gets electricity from environmentally friendly sources of energy: hydraulic turbine generators and installed solar panels. It seems that considering the way we are polluting the earth, everyone should attend.

Amazing Benefits Of Neem Oil For Skin And Hair : #Beauty

Grown throughout India, neem tree is well known not only for its medicinal properties but also for taking care of environmental issues. Neem trees are native to India and other parts of Asia and are known as Margosa Tree in English and their botanical term is Azadirachta Indica.  Neem is a multipurpose herb and because of its exceptional medicinal properties of curing illness, it is often referred to as “plant with a promise”.

In ancient Vedas, neem tree is referred to “Sarva Roga Nirvarini” – one capable of curing every illness and ailments. Neem has been used in India since thousands of years and is used extensively in many Ayurveda medicines for its disease fighting properties. Every part of the tree, branch, leaves, barks, fruits, flowers and root are extremely beneficial as they contain azadirachtin compound which gives neem its anti-bacterial, antifungal and anti-parasitic properties. Neem is extremely beneficial in treating various infections and strengthening the immune system. Besides its several health benefits it is also used in a variety of household products. Neem is a safe product to use and does not lead to any side effects.

From this tree comes the famed neem oil. Neem oil is a vegetable oil extracted from the fruits and seeds of neem tree. The oil is light to dark brown in colour depending upon its method of processing. It is very bitter in taste mainly because of its triglycerides and triterpenoid compounds. It is used for several purposes. Neem oil contains fatty acids like oleic acid and linoleic acid which are beneficial for the skin. The benefits of neem oil are many.

A. Benefits Of Neem Oil For Hair

1. Weekly application of neem oil can result in healthier scalp and healthy hair. Massage the oil well into the scalp and leave it overnight or apply it prior to washing. When using neem oil, dilute it with some other carrier oils like almond oil or coconut oil as neem is a very strong oil and has a strong smell which people with sensitive noses might find difficult to tolerate. Apart from the odour, the concentrated nature of neem oil may cause reactions to people with sensitive skin.

2. Neem oil is a natural cure for dandruff and dry scalp.  Many dandruff shampoos utilize neem oil and regular usage can prevent dandruff from forming. Neem shampoo is the most convenient way to prevent other scalp ailments like itchy scalp and psoriasis. Regular application of the oil can also help to resolve thinning issue as the oil promotes hair growth and strengthens hair from the roots.

3. Neem oil can also be used to condition rough and frizzy hair.  Add a few drops of oil to the shampoo and then apply the shampoo on your hair and leave it for a while. The hair will retain a nice shine once the hair gets dried.

4. Neem oil is a safe way to remove head lice. Other chemical products to remove lice can lead to several undesired effects on the scalp. Leave the neem oil overnight and then comb with a nit comb to remove lice. Neem oil does not have any adverse effects and there has been no allergic reaction to neem.

5. Neem oil is also known for its ability to increase hair growth. It can be used to counter the effects of hair thinning due various reasons including stress, medication, pollution and more. It promotes hair growth and improves the quality of your hair at the same time.

B. Benefits Of Neem Oil For Skin

Neem oil is loaded with nutrients and is used in a variety of lotions, creams soaps and of course cosmetics. It is extremely beneficial for eczema prone skin and will benefit people who suffer from psoriasis and acne. Its astringent properties help to cure minor cuts and wounds. Probably this is the reason ointments carry neem oil as it primary component.  Neem oil helps to relieve dry and itchy skin.

6. Neem contains high level of antioxidants which protect the skin from environmental damage. It also contains carotenoids which provide high antioxidants that defend the skin against age promoting free radicals. Neem oil is high in essential fatty acids and Vitamins. It gets easily absorbed by the skin and rejuvenates it and improves its elasticity. With regular usage, neem also smoothens wrinkles and fine lines, thus fights the signs of ageing.

7. Neem oil is ideal for acne prone skin because it clears up pimples and removes bacteria that cause break outs. Neem oil contains aspirin like compound which removes the acne causing bacteria from the skin. It also helps to reduce redness and inflammation. The high fatty acid content in neem oil prevents and treats scar that occurs because of acne and is non comedogenic. It can also be used as a face mask to remove the entire impurities ad tightens the pores.

8. The root of eczema mainly lies in the genes and runs in the family. Neem oil helps to relieve eczema symptoms but cannot cure the root cause of eczema. Since neem is particularly high in Vitamin E and fatty acids, it quickly penetrates the outer layer of the skin restoring the protective barrier and prevents moisture loss. Its ability to reduce inflammation and heal abrasion soothes eczema irritation. The nimbidin and nimbin compounds and the neem oil help to relieve redness and swelling. It also helps to heal dry and damaged skin. Its antiseptic properties keep infections at bay.

9. Fungal infections of the skin like ring worms, nail fungus and atheletes foot are quite common. Neem being one of the most powerful anti-fungal agents available in nature makes for a good replacement for the over the counter creams that are available at the pharmacists. The two compounds from the leaves of the neem responsible for this are the gedunin and nimbidol. These compounds destroy the fungi that causes this infection. Tests have proven that neem oil is effective on 14 different cultures of fungi.

Other benefits:

10. Dental care products like toothpaste, mouth wash, and rinse contains neem oil as it has antiseptic properties which keep teeth and gum healthy and infection free.

11. It is used in preparing medicines that treat diabetes, arthritis, blood disorder and digestive problems.

12. Skin care companies often include neem oil in their cosmetics as an essential oil. It is extremely popular in all products of aromatherapy that help to restore mental health.

13. This is a multipurpose oil and is also used in the production of pesticides, fungicide and germicide which makes it a valuable component for agricultural purposes. Its active ingredients inhibit the growth of insects by interrupting their life cycle.

14. Neem oil is also used in various pet care products. Neem pet care products are helpful to deter ticks and fleas as well as controlling mange, hot spots, scabies and other skin diseases in animals. Neem oil is powerful enough to kill ticks and lice in pets and also prevent the re -occurrence to a certain extent when added to their shampoo. We can also spray this in the area where your pets usually spend time to prevent them from contracting them again.

15. Neem oil is an excellent repellent for a wide variety of common garden bugs including caterpillars, nematodes, locust’s beetles and mites. At home neem oil can combat ant, cockroach and termite infestation.

16. Neem oil can also be used a deterrent for grounds of mosquito breeding. Emulsify the water in the area with neem oil and the odour will discourage mosquitoes from breeding in that area.

17. Mix neem oil and dish washing liquid in equal proportions well and transfer to a spray bottle. This solution can the be used to preserve your plants by spraying the leaves, barks and roots also.

18. But if you already are facing the trouble of mosquito infestation apart from using neem oil to prevent breeding, you can also use it to ward them off. Add 10% of neem oil to your lamp oil and allow it to burn. The odour will ward off the mosquitoes.

19. Cleaning the carpets and mattress thoroughly is one of the biggest troubles. You can get the grime off but then removing the bacteria is the hardest isn’t it? Just add neem oil to your carpet shampoo and spray your mattress with neem oil to remove all the mites, bacteria or fungi that might have made their breeding ground there.

20. Neem oil can also be used to treat minor cuts and wounds. Mix neem oil and vasaline in the proportion of 1:5 and then allow it to be.

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Indian American Devotee Ramalinga Raju Donates $3 Mn to Tirumala Temple

In a princely offering, an NRI devotee from US today donated Rs 16 crore to the famous hill shrine of Lord Venkateswara at nearby Tirumala.

M Ramalinga Raju, an entrepreneur based in the United States, handed over the offering in the form of a demand draft to top temple officials, temple sources said.

They said this was the first such large cash offering made by an individual devotee from overseas.

Raju presented the DD to Tirumala-Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) Chairman K. Bapiraju and the temple Joint Executive Officer K.S. Srinivasa Raju at the temple.

He requested the TTD, administering the cash-rich ancient temple, that Rs 11 crore be used to make a golden garland “sahasra nama mala” weighing about 35 kg and utilise the balance Rs five crore for the construction of a free-meal complex for pilgrims at Tiruchanur near here, they said.

This is the second large cash offering since last month. On March 27, a Chennai-based pharmaceutical firm had donated Rs two crore to the hill shrine, they added.

Source: PTI

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Kamakhya Temple: Story Of A Bleeding Devi

Kamakhya temple is a famous pilgrimage situated at Guwahati, Assam. The temple is located on the Nilachal hill in Guwahati at about 8 kms from the railway station. The Kamakhya temple is dedicated to the tantric goddesses. Apart from the deity Kamakhya Devi, compound of the temple houses 10 other avatars of Kali namely Dhumavati, Matangi, Bagola, Tara, Kamala, Bhairavi, Chinnamasta, Bhuvaneshwari and Tripuara Sundari.

Mythical History

The temple of Kamakhya has a very interesting story of its origin. It is one of the 108 Shakti peeths. The story of the Shakti peeths goes like this; once Sati fought with her husband Shiva to attend her father’s great yagna. At the grand yagna, Sati’s father Daksha insulted her husband. Sati was angered and in her shame, she jumped into the fire and killed herself. When Shiva came to know that his beloved wife had committed suicide, he went insane with rage. He placed Sati’s dead body on his shoulders and did the tandav or dance of destruction.

To calm him down, Vishnu cut the dead body with his chakra. The 108 places where Sati’s body parts fell are called Shakti peeths. Kamakhya temple is special because Sati’s womb and vagina fell here.

The Name ‘Kamakhya’

The God of love, Kamadeva had lost his virility due to a curse. He sought out the Shakti’s womb and genitals and was freed from the curse. This is where ‘love’ gained his potency and thus, the deity ‘Kamakhya’ devi was installed and worshipped here.

Some people also believe that the Kamakhya temple is a place where Shiva and devi Sati had their romantic encounters. As the Sanskrit word for lovemaking is ‘kama’, the place was named Kamakhya.

The Bleeding Goddess

Kamakhya devi is famous as the bleeding goddess. The mythical womb and vagina of Shakti are supposedly installed in the ‘Garvagriha’ or sanctum of the temple. In the month of Ashaad (June), the goddess bleeds or menstruates. At this time, the Brahmaputra river near Kamakhya turns red. The temple then remains closed for 3 days and holy water is distributed among the devotees of Kamakhya devi.

There is no scientific proof that the blood actually turns the river red. Some people say that the priests pour vermilion into the waters. But symbolically, menstruation is the symbol of a woman’s creativity and power to give birth. So, the deity and temple of Kamakhya celebrates this ‘shakti’ or power within every woman.

Yes, it’s true: Pope Francis has only one lung

The new pope has daunting challenges ahead ranging from the church sex abuse scandal to reinvigorating the flock.

And Pope Francis will have to do it all with just one lung.

The Argentine pontiff lost the greater part of one lung to a teenage infection. “He feels it today,” says his authorized biographer Sergio Rubin. “He’s a little bit slowed by it, but he’s OK.”

Pope Francis’ one lung doesn’t compromise health

Doctors said that losing one lung doesn’t necessarily compromise the Pope Francis’ health or reduce his life span, though it means no strenuous exercise since he no longer has as much air capacity as people with two lungs. “He probably wouldn’t be able to run marathons, but I don’t think that would be on his schedule,” said Dr. Peter Openshaw, director of the Centre for Respiratory Infection at Imperial College London. “Having one lung should be enough as long as there is no other disease in that lung.”

Openshaw didn’t think a papal schedule would be too taxing for Pope Francis’ one lung, though he noted the pope’s rib cage might look slightly unusual. “His X-ray will probably look rather alarming, but understandable once you know he only has one lung,” he said.

Openshaw said Pope Francis’ existing lung would probably have expanded to fill the space left by the missing one, and that his ribcage would have shrunk slightly in size. His diaphragm may also have moved up slightly higher than normal. But none of those changes should affect Francis’ normal activities, he said.

Experts said it would be rare nowadays to remove a lung. Antibiotics would be used to treat most lung infections including tuberculosis, though part of the organ might be removed to treat advanced lung cancer.

Back when Pope Francis had his lung removed, the available antibiotics weren’t as powerful. “In the past, doctors used to try all kinds of strange things to try to treat lung infections,” said Dr. Jennifer Quint, a respiratory expert at London’s School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. She said physicians even used to stick ping pong balls into peoples’ lungs in an attempt to starve the lung of oxygen, to kill the bacteria.

Quint said the fact that Pope Francis appears so fit and healthy at 76 bodes well for his future.

“If he were going to have any major complications from the surgery (to remove the lung), he would have had them by now,” she said. She said Francis’ main challenge will be to keep his remaining lung healthy. “I would recommend a yearly flu vaccination and an occasional pneumonia vaccine to avoid infection,” she said.

Openshaw agreed Pope Francis’ remaining lung should be able to compensate for the missing one, similar to how parts of the brain may pick up functions of other regions damaged by a stroke.

“The other lung can gain capacity but there will be limits,” he said, comparing it to a car engine that now runs slightly slower. “You may not be able to accelerate as hard but it still works just as well.”

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Pope Francis’ women, secrets and future as an idol

The stones on which the Obelisco is elevated, the symbol of the city of Buenos Aires, were placed in 1936. That same year, Jorge Bergoglio, Pope Francis I, was born in the district of Flores, to the west of the city. He grew in that Buenos Aires of old with two great passions; the tango golden era and the popular soccer passion of the people.

Pope Francis’ women

General Peron ruled Argentina when Pope Francis, hardly 12 years of age, proposed to Amalia, an attractive youngster friend. The now smiling old lady shared her story with almost all the Argentine media that the romantic boy gave her a drawing with a small house and a note of promise: “This small house is the one that I am going to buy you when we get married. If we don’t get married, I’ll become a priest.” Amalia never answered that proposal, but the young Bergoglio demonstrated his natural determination and conviction. Some years later, when he was 21-years-old, he entered the seminary.

Camila is a lefty militant, atheist and feminist. She fights for women’s rights and reproductive rights and defends the right of women to a legal abortion. Still, she is a dear friend of Pope Francis who warmly nicknamed her the “troska of God”. Camila is very proud of the great respect that she and the new pope profess to each other, from their diametrically opposed positions.

Maria Elena Bergoglio, the pope’s younger sister, revealed that her brother did, in fact, not want to be Pope, as he considered his chance already having passed for two reasons: In the voting of year 2005, he was second after Pope Benedicto XVI and because he had recently turned 75 years-old. Bergoglio was so certain about not becoming Pope that he told Maria Elena his passage to Rome was a roundtrip. The woman explained that she was sorry not to have been able to communicate with her brother even to congratulate him after the announcement. “When you stop calling me and my telephone is no longer occupied, I will do it!” she joked and concluded, “to have a brother Pope is a God blessing.”

Argentine government’s reaction to Pope Francis’ appointment

The appointment of Cardinal Bergoglio as pope caused confusion first and then disdain among different Argentine government spokesmen. On the very same day as Pope Francis’ appointment, diverse notes were published that indicated suspicions of collaboration between military dictatorship. There were even faked photos circling social media in which Bergoglio was supposedly blessing the ex-general Videla. In just a few short hours, diverse personalities of different political affiliation denied such accusations. Among them, the Nobel Peace prize winner, Perez Esquivel and the former member of the Conadep Graciela, Fernandez Meijide.

Future as an idol

Pope Francis retired his luggage this morning from the House of the Clergy, in via Della Scrofa, and, “he paid the account to give good example,” said Father Federico Lombardi, the Vatican spokesman, in his daily meeting with the journalists.

The new pope speaks Spanish and also Italian, as we heard yesterday, German, English and French, and perhaps also Portuguese. Interestingly, the new Pontiff made a phone call, after being chosen, to former Pope Benedicto XVI.

From his past as Archbishop of Buenos Aires, Pope Francisco always had strong opinions and phrases jeopardized with respect to the different aspects of the political and social reality of Argentina. Subjects like the Tragedy of Once, abortion, gay marriage and drug trafficking were part of his homilies directed to the masses that he gave in the Buenosairean Cathedral.

These are some of the more forceful phrases:

• “Human rights are violated not only by terrorism or repression, but also by extreme poverty.”
• “Gay marriage is one devil action.”
• “You can see death sold at the doors of the schools” (talking about drugs)
• “Abortion is never is a solution. We must accompany and understand in order to save the two lives.”
• “There are irresponsible people in charge who did not fulfill their duties.” (Tragedy of Once)
• “God forgive them for what they just did.” (referring to the cardinals who chose him Pope)
• “They came to look for a Pope from the aim of the world”

Pope Francis is Argentine and the Argentineans know very well how to deify their idols. In this case, that is redundant, of course, but already they have found a higher step on the Argentinity podium. It happened today that Pope Francis’s San Lorenzo’s member card (the football team which the Pope is fan of) was the winner in a lottery drawing, and with the rejoicing of many, Francis was chosen as pope the day of Santa Cristina… perhaps destiny is being especially ironic in this case. There are already Pope Francis T-shirts and souvenirs and it would not be unimaginable that tomorrow we might find Pope Francis seated to the right… of Maradona.

Future Chinese Naval Bases Overseas – What Would They Be Like?

The recently realized but long in its planning, transition of the Pakistani port of Gwadar to the Chinese management company has led to a series of negative reactions from the Indian experts. India is concerned about a gradual increase of the activity of the PLA Navy in the Indian Ocean and the transition to Chinese port authorities in countries such as Pakistan or Sri Lanka and sees it as a move to encircle India within a chain of Chinese military bases. But in reality, the creation of permanent military bases here is unlikely, says the expert of the Center for Analysis of Strategies and Technologies, Vasily Kashin.

According to the expert, military bases, located in the neighboring countries of India will be almost useless in case of a military confrontation between China and India. Being isolated from its mother country, the bases will be within range of Indian aviation and cruise missiles and therefore be quickly destroyed. On the other hand, the presence of a constant and a large military base in Pakistan would in turn make China a hostage of the unstable Pakistani domestic politics.

At the same time, the growing global presence of Chinese Navy will sooner or later raise the issue of establishing an appropriate global infrastructure. Already Chinese naval ships that are involved in anti -pirate patrolling off the coast of Somalia are actively using the ports of Oman, Yemen and Djibouti for restocking. Each Chinese squad, along the Somalian coast, also includes transport logistics. Usually these cargo ships restock fuel and other supplies at the local ports and then transport these to the warships at sea .The Chinese navy pays a great deal of attention to the detailed procedures involved in the transfer of fuel, food and water in the open sea.

In 2011, the Government of Seychelles directly proposed China to create a permanent military base in the islands. In response, China’s Defense Ministry stressed that the database will not be created so as not to damage the unique ecology of the islands. Although some Chinese military experts, such as Rear Admiral Wu Shengli, directly called for the establishment of foreign military bases to support operations of the fleet, the Foreign Ministry and the Defense Ministry of China have always denied the existence of such plans. At the same time they do not exclude the possibility of overseas supply points, without deployment of troops on the territory of other countries.

So, we can assume that China will adhere to a step by step approach to the creation of an infrastructure of global military presence. For the start, probably, they will follow the tried and tested tactic of the USSR- to start with the development of infrastructure of the bases overseas by creating logistics points.

An example of such an object can be considered the similar Russian point in the Syrian city of Tartous. It consists of a few warehouses and workshops onshore and a pier to which a floating workshop can be docked. Only a few permanent ground staff members are required to maintain this point. The creation of such structures avoids attracting too much attention and also avoids accusations of expansion.

This work can be developed after the implementation of some of the more important programs of the Chinese navy, in particular the formation of battle ready aircraft carrier groups. It is unlikely that for the supply bases, ports in friendly countries in the region that are already under the control of Chinese companies, such as Gwadar, will be used. Already, The Chinese Navy has no obstacles in using these ports. On the other hand, the creation of special infrastructure for the Chinese navy may be more practical in the less developed countries on the eastern coast of Africa.

Sethusamudram project is illegal, arbitrary and unacceptable: Subramanian Swamy

Lashing out at the UPA Government over its decision to go ahead with Sethusamudram Project despite the R. K. Pachauri Committee report suggesting it is unviable, Janata Party president Subramanian Swamy on Monday said the mega project is illegal, arbitrary and unacceptable.

“The important thing is that the project is not acceptable. It is illegal, arbitrary, unreasonable and extremely expensive,” said Swamy, while talking to reporters here.

“They (government) also clamed in their affidavit that Rs.860 crore have already been spent and therefore we want to go ahead with the project. Well if you have spent Rs.860 crore for a project which was illegal, arbitrary and unreasonable, malafide and extraordinarily expensive then according to the Supreme Court judgments, those who cleared the project they are responsible and this amount must be taken out of their wealth,” he added.

Swamy further stated that cutting of the Ram Setu (Adam’s Bridge) for this project would be a violation of section 295 (malicious of the religious sentiments of the citizen irrespective of any class) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).

Sethusamudram project was started in 2005 but was suspended following the Supreme Court order and R. K. Pachauri Committee was constituted to look in to the matter.

The committee has submitted its report on Friday last week, suggesting the entire Sethusamudram project unviable on two fronts – economically as ecologically.

However, the government has rejected the Pachauri Committee report and submitted an affidavit in the Supreme Court with and intention to pursue the project cutting through the Adam’s Bridge, popularly known as Ram Setu.

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Saving the mangroves

India’s eastern coastline and regions east of India have been suffering serious environmental degradation without any sincere efforts at mitigation. The Orissa super-cyclone of 1999 smashed through huge tracts of land, taking countless lives and wrecking incalculable damage to crops, cattle, and property. The thirteen coastal districts along Tamil Nadu’s 255-kilometre long coastline are regularly exposed to cyclonic fury, and the terrifying tsunami of 2004 is still fresh in public memory.

Summer 2008 has been kind to India; Hurricane Nargis which shattered the lives of untold thousands in Myanmar has spared this land; it could so easily have been otherwise. A grim earthquake has devastated China, raising the toll of human tragedy manifold. Delhi’s unseasonal rains have also taken some lives, and the weather has been inexplicable enough for experts to seriously consider it a consequence of global warming and environmental degradation.

Resurrecting the mangroves, now almost extinct in our part of the world, can even now end this continuing legacy of human misery, this horrible haemorrhaging of the earth itself. Mangroves, literally dense forests on the shore, tolerate the salinity of sea water and protect inland water sources and soil from salinity and erosion; above all, they mitigate the impact of cyclonic winds. There is no more ecologically sensitive and cost effective measure of saving the seacoast and continental shelf than mangroves, yet we have seen least action in this direction.

Given the pulsating environmental instability in our region, it is astonishing a debate still persists regarding the desirability of the Rs 2,400-crore white elephant called the Setusamundaram Shipping Canal Project (SSCP). The plan to dredge a 300-metre wide channel through the land-link between India and Sri Lanka, to reduce the distance between the western and eastern coast ports, is opposed by environmentalists, economists and security analysts. Colombo has raised an alarm fearing human intervention on Ram Setu could threaten its very existence in the event of another tsunami, already predicted by Nature magazine (December 2007).

The historical-civilizational significance of Ram Setu is obvious. Sinhala scholar Prof Tissa Kariyawasam, former dean of the University of Jayawardenapura, Sri Lanka, says most probably Emperor Ashoka’s son Mahendra and daughter Sanghamitra came to the island by walking across the Ram Setu. It symbolizes the establishment and protection of dharma; the Skanda Purana prescribes worship of the Rama Setu and the Shivalinga installed in its middle with appropriate mantras. It is a popular place for offerings to pitrs (ancestors).

The proposal to hack a channel was publicly welcomed by the LTTE in Sri Lanka and Tamil politician Vaiko. The Indian Navy and Coast Guard warned of the possibility of facilitating militant groups! Capt. H. Balakrishnan (retd) of Chennai made an in-depth study of the SSCP’s viability, particularly the claim that it would save ships nearly 424 nautical miles (780 kms) and about 30 hours of sailing time, with commensurate savings in fuel, thereby becoming self-sustaining over time. An estimated 3055 vessels were projected to use the canal annually.

But its economic viability alone is questionable from a study of the Information Memorandum of the UTI Bank (now Axis Bank), wherein dredging costs alone are pegged at Rs 200 million in the first year. This will actually be higher as the open sea will constantly bring sand, which may keep the channel effectively closed much of the year. It is pertinent that the Suez Canal was cut through land, though it too has to be annually desilted. Many international shipping companies have already stated that using the canal would involve reducing speed, switching fuels, and incurring extra costs like canal charges and navigation assistance to negotiate it; hence it made better sense to go around Sri Lanka! With news reports suggesting cost escalation up to Rs. 4000 crores, the argument for economic viability of the project is certainly over.

The Kochi-based Centre for Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI) has warned about the adverse effect on marine bio-diversity in the protected Gulf of Mannar Biosphere Reserve, if the SSCP is implemented. Director NGK Pillai has affirmed that the 3,600 species in the biosphere would be endangered if the Gulf of Mannar was linked to the Bay of Bengal, in the manner in which the Kochi shipyard had caused loss of nearly 60 percent biodiversity in the Kochi estuary. Worldwide, the phenomenon of vanishing wildlife is reaching endemic proportions, and unless strict measures are taken, biodiversity loss could touch 60 to 70 percent in the next three decades. In this regard, the practice of trawl fishnets needs an urgent rethink, as they cause immeasurable damage to non-edible biota.

The National Institute of Ocean Technology has affirmed that the Ram Sethu is a man-made structure, dating back to antiquity, a view shared by the National Remote Sensing Agency of the Ministry of Space, which has even been tabled in Parliament. This is why, once it was forced to withdraw the controversial affidavit denying the existence of Sri Ram, the Union Tourism and Culture Ministry insisted only an archaeological investigation could determine if the Ram Setu is man-made, and a legitimate heritage site worthy of protection under the Ancient Monuments Preservation Act, 1904. With monsoons ruling out an early investigation, the project is virtually in a limbo for the present.

But the danger is far from over as the forces behind SSCP are resourceful and powerful, as reflected in the ingenuous argument of protecting the Ram Setu while continuing with the project through a different alignment! It needs to be understood that the Ram Setu is a single, somewhat winding, land track between Sri Lanka and India, wide enough for an army to cross over. Over the centuries, natural erosion in the turbulent waters there has cut natural channels into it, wide enough for shallow boats to cross over to either side.

Any move to preserve the pristine glory of the Setu must envisage filling these passages and restoring the ‘Ram path’ between the two nations. Stopping SSCP vandalism at a spot where dredging is difficult and attacking the structure at a more vulnerable point, in the name of realignment, is desecration in disguise. It is pertinent that the southern sands are rich in thorium, our nuclear future. India does not need unnecessary activity in this area.

 Sandhya Jain -The Pioneer, 27 May 2008

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