The Hindu : National : Uma Bharti wants work on Sethu project stopped

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Jul 06, 2007
ePaper

National

National

Uma Bharti wants work on Sethu project stopped

Special Correspondent

MADURAI: Work on the Sethusamudram ship channel project should be stopped till the Ramar Sethu (Adam’s Bridge) and fishermen’s livelihood issues are resolved, former Union Minister and founder of the Bharatiya Jan Sakthi Uma Bharti demanded here on Thursday.

Addressing a press conference here, Ms. Bharti said the project threatened the existence of Ramar Sethu and the livelihood of fishermen. “Over one lakh fishermen” would be unemployed because of the project. The Government should come out with an alternative source of employment for them. Growth should be coupled with employment and not unemployment. Development should not be at the cost of the “country’s heritage.”

Ms. Bharti claimed it was she, as Union Minister for Mining, who “discovered” the Ramar Sethu and ordered a study into its nature by the Geological Survey of India. It could not be completed as she had to leave the Ministry. The GSI should now come out with a report. The National Democratic Alliance Government, she claimed, did not sanction the present alignment that cut through the Ramar Sethu.

Satyagraha today

Ms. Bharti, who plans to hold a ‘satyagraha’ at Rameswaram on Friday, wanted the Government to work out a new alignment. By promoting the Ramar Sethu as a heritage site, the country would earn more foreign exchange than the Sethu project.

Selection flayed

Ms. Bharti said her party would not support Pratibha Patil in the Presidential election and wondered why the Congress did not opt for more seasoned woman leaders. The choice had been made by Congress president Sonia Gandhi with an eye on the next general elections.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

National