Should religion have priority over the economy of a country?

by SatbirSinghBedi, June 3, 2009 15:32

I have addressed the following letter to the Chinese Ambassador:

"I am gravely concerned about reports that Chinese armed security forces have been deployed to stop a peaceful protest by Tibetans in Markham County in Chamdo prefecture (TAR). The Tibetans are appealing for an end to mine operations at Ser Ngul Lo Mountain - considered sacred by the local people.

Local sources report that approximately 500 Tibetans continue to blockade the road leading to Ser Ngul Lo Mountain, although officials in Markham told Radio Free Asia on May 27 that the standoff was close to being resolved.

Ser Ngul Lo Mountain is considered sacred by Tibetans and is also a source of income for local farming communities. Despite opposition from the Tibetans in the region, Chinese officials have authorized Zhongkai Co, a Chinese mining and lumber company to conduct mining operations that will cause irreversible environmental damage to the mountain. Local Tibetans believe that mining has already contributed to water contamination in the region, lea ding to the deaths of both people and cattle.

In response to this protest, the Chinese authorities have vowed to forcibly remove the Tibetans and have reportedly deployed at least 300 armed security forces to the blockade site.

I call on the Chinese government to immediately withdraw security forces from Markham and to negotiate with local Tibetans an end to mining operations at Ser Ngul Lo Mountain.

Sincerely,

Satbir Bedi"

However, I am rather concerned about the question whether religion should have priority over economy of a country?

In India also, we have a Sethusamudaram project against which the religious feelings of the Hindus are aroused. In this connection, the succeeding paragraphs are relevant.

As the new Union government takes its place in the saddle, the initial statements of intent by ministers have begun to create ripples. First up is Shipping Minister G K Vasan, who said upon taking charge that the United Progressive Alliance government should complete the Sethusamudram Shipping Channel Project, as it was beneficial to the country and Tamil Nadu. The statement by the minister, who represents the Congress, has raised the hackles of non-government organisations, as well as the main Opposition party, the BJP.

“The matter is pending before the Supreme Court and nothing can happen before the apex court’s verdict,” said BJP spokesperson Prakash Javdekar.

There is also the Pachauri Committee that is examining the project and is expected to come out with a report soon.

“The Sethusamudran Project, by any stretch of science, or environmental compatibility, is not good for the people,” said Ossie Fernandes, convenor, Coastal Action Network, a Chennai-based NGO opposing the project. “Dredging does not mean there is a canal.”
Subramanian G, executive-director of Manitham, another NGO, said: “We are opposing the project on environmental grounds.”

India has a peninsular coastline of 7,517 km studded with 12 major ports and 185 intermediary and minor ports. The Sethusamudram Project, which envisages dredging of a ship channel across the Palk Straits between India and Sri Lanka, plans to provide ships sailing between the east and west costs of India a straight passage through India’s territorial waters, instead of having to circumvent Sri Lanka.

The project is facing oppositions on environmental grounds. There is the fear that the project may result in tsunami waves hitting south Kerala more fiercely. The dredging of Ram Sethu, a mythological bridge built by Lord Rama in the Palk Strait, has made the BJP oppose the project.

There is a view that the project will disturb the ecological balance and kill corals. It is also an important fishing ground in Tamil Nadu. The trade in shells, which has a turnover of Rs 150 crore a year, will also die, it is feared. “We challenged Baalu (Vasan’s predecessor) and challenge Vasan to read the reports and then come out with any such claims,” said Fernandes.

Subramanian is less strident. Questioning the National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (Neeri) report, he said he would not oppose the project if it got clearance from an international agency.

“We are not totally against the project. We want another survey by an international agency, because the Neeri report lacked facts about the tsunami and cyclones. If that international agency clears it, we will let it happen,” he said.

Both Fernandes and Subramanian said they would meet the minister. “Yes, we will meet the minister and show him that this is not feasible and so work on the project should be stopped,” said Fernandes.

My friend, Mr. S. Kumar has this to say about the project:

"The DMK and UPA are falsely sticking on to their prestigious justification for breaking down the barrier or Ram Sethu to create the gap for the ships to cross over to Bay of Bengal from the South-Tuticorin

Senior Naval Officers have opined that there would be no time saving or cost reduction for the ships taking this route for reaching the Indian ports Chennai and northwards.

The calculations of piloting each ship through the canal, waiting time for the ships and the canal not allowing larger container ships were the basis for such negative conclusions on caosts as well as time saved.

If the ships move around Srilanka from Kanyakimari side, the sailing would be smoother and faster, though through a longer distance. It is like taking a motorway compared to a shorter route of obstacles including ferry crossing by road users, the saving in fuel, time or cost being negligible.

Balu and DMK want Tuticorin to be developed as a major port for all ships taking the Arabian sea- Singapore route or to Vizag/Calcutta or Chittagong and to reduce the importance of the Natural deep water port Kochi, which has tremendous natural advantages over Tuticorin.

DMK knows that once the Kochi Vallarpadam project is competed, all major container ships would prefer Kochi for transhipment (now carried out in Dubai only) as well as imports into India by a well connected rail link to Tamilnadu and Karnataka, that would work out cheaper than the Tuticorin or Chennai route for cargo-s coming from Suez Canal side.

Let us not go into the emotive issue of faith. Historical proof of the family of "Sethu" Maharaja- descendants still living in Madurai and Rameswaram- known as Sethupati (A Setupathu School runs in Madurai since over 100 years) were entrusted to look after and protect Ram Sethu since times immemorial.

Climatologists have predicted that this barrier stands as a real barrier protecting the Southern Coasts from Tsunami and high tides and storms during monsoons, by dissipating the force at the surface. Breaking down of Ram Sethu might cause severe damage to the Southern borders by the storms crossing the barrier.

DMK has taken it as a prestige issue. Karunanidhi once questioned "Who was Rama? Was he a Civil Engineer to construct the bridge? In which College did he take the degree? Did Rama ever exist? and so on spewing his aetheistic ideologies, much to the chagrin of the faith of Hindus."

However, the question remains whether religion should have priority over the economy of a Country? What are your views in this regard.

Satbir Singh Bedi

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Total Comments : 5

lostpatrol says:

On mining in Tibet: the costs are prohibitively high. As an example, unless the iron ore price moves above $300/MT, it is sheer waste of money to dig it in Tibet. This example can be applied to all mineral ores prospected in Tibet. 

On dredging of Palk Strait: Would you ask your serving friends and tell us if a) the findings of techno-economic assessment based on a FEED of the project b) if EIA (Environment Impact Assessment) was integral part of that FEED and c) if a special ministry can be created to oversee reconstruction of Ram Sethu to its pristine conditions of that era and pilgrimages can be organized on the lines of Tirupati. 

Marry Economy and Religion. And of course, for non-believers, introduce some resorts at discrete locales,-sub sea preferred-

June 3, 21:18 PM

Busybee says:

Ecology tends to adjust to such shifts and changes.. and maybe dredging the palk straits might throw up some interesting forced evolution.. :D  So we can always conduct an experiment there and dredge.  Brahmanyan on O3 had written abt some alternative route to spare the sethu and yet reduce the shipping costs as well.

June 3, 23:25 PM

lostpatrol says:

Bee, are you arguing that Sri Rama altered the ecology by building the "Adam's Bridge' and is responsible for the under-development of Tamil hinterland? (It is interesting to hear if he was opposed in his times and if anyone did, how did he react? Did he get Hanuman to throw the opponents into the sea?)

Conversely, should we to await re-incarnation of Sri Rama, in order to dredge and force a new order?

June 4, 19:30 PM

Busybee says:

LP

yes he did.. which is why we dont get Bombay ducks on the east coast and there are 2-3 varities of squirrels.  As for Rama, I am waiting for the person who thinks he is God Almighty to show up.. :D:D:D..

June 4, 20:43 PM

Mind-It says:

The project from my Analysis
Thumbs Up - Less travel times for ships, marginal increase in economy by boosting Tuticorin port.

Thumbs Down - Ecological damange and a destruction of a Artificial/Natural coral reef and marine sanctury, High cost of operation; as each ship that uses sethu canal must use a tug boat and probable collection of tariff if dredging cost is passed to ships.  

factors to be considered: continous dredging (process of removing sand from canal) will incur cost to govt till they operate the canal

June 5, 13:01 PM

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