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VOICE MAIL

        Sir,

        V Sundaram's three-part article in News Today 'SSCP — Suppressed marine, maritime, nautical aspects' based on the vital information given by Captain (Retd) Balakrishnan was extremely knowledgeable and highly informative.

        The article has clearly dealt with the risks to which this hasty project has been exposed. When the trend all over the world is to go in for high tonnage ships, one wonders what our government is going to achieve with this project! The DMK government has created hype and totally misled the people, as if the project is going to generate great employment and good revenue.

        The urgency with which the dredging is being carried out, goes to prove that the government is not only disrespecting the religious sentiments of millions of Hindus worldwide, but also not bothered about thousands of rare marine organisms, apart from the livelihood of Fishermen.

        The LTTE threat factor as envisaged by Captain Balakrishnan cannot be brushed aside, and it requires a serious look and a second thought from the central government, especially after the Sea Tigers' recent attack on the Lankan Naval Base at Delft and their recently acquired air power. It is believed that the Islet Delft is hardly 10 kms from the SSCP project site and as the site is also within the striking distance of 'Vaan Puligal' (Air Tigers), no shipping company will take the risk of using the proposed Sethu Samudram channel, just for the sake of saving a paltry time limit of 15 to 20 hours, which amounts to nothing for ships traveling from west to east.

        If 'Bala' reminds us of the old adage 'Haste makes Waste,' 'Balu' reminds us of another old adage 'Make hay while the sun shines.' All right thinking people will condemn Balu's attitude and support Captain Bala's perspective.

        B R Haran, Thiruvanmiyur

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        The Editor, News Today, 85, Mount Road, Guindy, Chennai - 600 032.

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