Sethu project risky because LTTE – Indian Navy

"Vice-Admiral Contractor said his force was "alive to the threat of the LTTE" and was continuing its vigilance following the resumption of the war in Sri Lanka between the Sri Lankan military and the LTTE. This is also so since the Sea Tigers (the naval wing of the LTTE) operate in the waters around northern Sri Lanka."

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by Sridhar Kumaraswami reporting from New Delhi

(February 01, New Delhi, Sri Lanka Guardian) The director-general of the Coast Guard, Vice-Admiral Rusi Contractor, has warned that there would be security threats emerging from the proposed Sethusamudram project and that the Coast Guard had already conveyed its views to the government on this. "It (Sethusamudram) is a major project. The government has taken our views. There are security threats. There are ramifications," he said, at a function to mark the 31st anniversary of the Coast Guard.

"It is a maritime area. Security issues are bound to arise by virtue of the close boundary line between India and Sri Lanka," he said. "If a freeway canal is opened up for ships for transit, there can be piracy there," the director-general pointed out. He said there was also the problem of close proximity to a neighbouring country where a conflict is raging, like Sri Lanka. Coast Guard officials said if the channel created by the Sethusamudram project is narrow, it could also led to navigational hazards, like the threat of collisions between naval vessels. However, officials said security measures would always be in place, as in the Panama Canal, Malacca Straits and Suez Canal.

Vice-Admiral Contractor said his force was "alive to the threat of the LTTE" and was continuing its vigilance following the resumption of the war in Sri Lanka between the Sri Lankan military and the LTTE. This is also so since the Sea Tigers (the naval wing of the LTTE) operate in the waters around northern Sri Lanka. Vice-Admiral Contractor said there had been only 3,779 immigrants from Sri Lanka to India last year while there had been 16,619 immigrants from there in 2006.

However, Coast Guard officials later claimed that the director-general "had not opposed" the Sethusamudram project but had merely pointed out the "security implications and increased responsibilities" of the Coast Guard in such a scenario. The Coast Guard patrols waters up to 12 nautical miles from the Indian coast.

The Coast Guard currently has 76 ships and 45 aircraft, including helicopters, in its fleet. Vice-Admiral Contractor said the Coast Guard was keen to acquire six turbo-prop or jet maritime patrol aircraft that can fly at low altitudes. A request-for-proposal (RFP) would be issued soon for this, the director-general said.

Reacting to the comments of Vice-Admiral Contractor on the Sethusamudram project, BJP leader Ravi Shankar Prasad demanded that "security concerns be addressed first" on the issue since there has been an "expert comment from the Coast Guard’s highest authority". Mr Prasad said, "The BJP is not opposed to the Sethusamudram project per se, but why should the Ram Sethu be destroyed for this?"

Meanwhile, Union tourism and culture minister Ambika Soni said various inputs would be placed before the government regarding the project before any go-ahead is given, but added that it was not for her to comment on the issue.