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Ecological disaster, loss of livelihood will be a reality' Save Ramar bridge, a national heritage K VIVEK PRASAD Chennai, May 1: Rameswaram Ramasethu Protection Movement (RRPM), which is in the forefront of a social movement to stall the Sethusamudram project (SSP), a pet plan of the ruling DMK, says that popular support for the movement is growing by leaps and bounds. It also says that SSP, if continues, would cause more harm than said. The SSP which is in the eye of a storm for different reasons ever since the implementation started, is also feared to cause a massive ecological disaster besides damaging the ancient Ramar bridge. http://newstodaynet.com/01may/28pg3-4.jpg Kuppu Ramu, an advocate and convenor of RRPM, speaking to News Today, said that they have been continuously protesting against the move since 2001. 'We have conducted a lot of demonstrations over the years in many places, the latest being a mammoth agitation in Rameswaram last month in which a lot of religious and social leaders participated,' Kuppu Ramu said and added the besides local support people from across the country had pledged support and it is growing day by day. It was 'very wrong' to paint a religious colour to the movement as the Ramar bridge does not belong to a particular religion. It is a national heritage symbol and all of us have a responsibility to protect it. V R Krishna Iyer, a well known legal luminary wrote to Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh urging him to stop works for SSP and about 167 civic, social and non governmental organisations run by people owing allegiance to different religious faiths also support the RRPM. 'All this only demonstrate the non-religious character of the movement,' Kuppu Ramu said. The Rama Sethu convenor also also pointed out that the governemnt had a responsibility to respect the sentiments of the people. 'If SSP is allowed to continue, besides dangerous ecological damages and loss of livelihood for fishermen, it would also hurt the religious sentiments of billions of Indians,' he said. 'Ever since the dredging work commenced in the India ocean, many aquatic animals such as sea cows, different species of fishes have been found dead along the East coast, which is verily the initial signs of a huge ecological disaster, waiting to unfold in the coming days,' the convenor of RRPM said. Kuppu Ramu also referred to the deep sense of disaffection among the fishermen over the unrelenting stance of the Central government. 'If marine life is affected, their livelihood would be at stake and they have a point.' Kuppu Ramu also described the sinking of Aquarius, a dredger which was employed for cutting the bridge, as a sign of divine intervention. 'The people believe that Lord Hanuman is protecting the bridge, by chanting the Rama mantram, and it is believed that sinking of the dredger was an expression of divine displeasure,' he said. 'On the one hand the Centre claims that it is trying to protect the coral reef extending from Tutocorin to Rameshwaram, and on the other hand they themselves come out with disaster prone ideas like Sethu samudram a clear contradiction,' Kuppu Ramu said and wanted the government to halt the SSP works in deference to popular opinion. |
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