Intervening during the debate on supplementary estimates, she attacked the Centre for "hastily implementing the Sethusamudram project without taking note of the adverse impact on the environment." The marine biology in the Palk Straits had been "totally damaged" due to frequent movement of ships used for dredging, she said.
Sri Lanka concerned with Setu Samudram project
"These ships have not only damaged fishing nets worth several lakhs of rupees, but also destroyed fish reproduction centres in the straits. Prawns, which were once available in plenty, are not available at all now. Fishermen, who used to get more than 20,000 kilogrammes of prawn annually, are now complaining of not getting anything." She also sought to disprove Union Shipping Minister T R Baalu's remarks that the project would reduce shipping costs and said it would actually increase costs. Ship owners would not only have to pay a toll for using the canal, but also an additional amount for the pilot ship. The claim that shipping time would come down was also wrong as ships using the canal would have to ply at lesser speed. This would increase fuel expenditure by four to five times, she said.
Stating that the Centre's reasoning for going ahead with the project was not convincing, Jayalalithaa pointed out that only smaller ships could pass through the canal, since its depth was only 12 metres.
Graphic: Sethusamudram Project
The fact that the Centre is now appointing a committee to assess the environmental damage only proved that they had apprehensions on the damage caused, the chief minister said.
Alleging that the union environment and forest ministry had intimidated the state pollution control board to submit a report on the proceedings of public hearings on the projects even before they were conducted, she asked, "Is this the way to advocate state autonomy?" The ministry had cleared the project without obtaining a No-Objection Certificate from the board or any report from the state government, she said.
The chief minister said there were a lot of contradictions in the environmental assessment report prepared by National Engineering and Environment Research Institute, Nagpur, which was based on old data.
The area in which dredging is to be undertaken has many coral reefs. Also the areas where the dredged sand has to be dumped has not been properly identified. An expert committee appointed by the state government has suggested a comprehensive survey on water flow, marine biology and steps to be taken to avoid accidents, she said.
Reiterating that her government is not opposed to all central schemes, she said her government has supported schemes to upgrade Chennai airport to international standards and expansion of Tuticorin port. "My government wants to have a cordial relationship with the Centre", she added.