CONGRESS SANDESH COMPLETES ITS SEVEN YEAR

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Economically Vital ProjectSpeechSonia GandhiFollowing is Congress President, Smt. Sonia Gandhi’sspeech during the inauguration of the SethusamudramProject on Saturday, 2 nd July 2005 at Madurai, Tamil Nadu.Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singhji,Thiru Karunanidhiji,Governor SS Barnalaji,Thiru TR Baalu,Distinguished guests,Ladies and Gentlemen,Today, we realize a 150-year old dream.The Sethusamudram project has been talked about all theseyears, but little was done to make it a working reality.Now, the Congress-led UPA governmentat the Centre, a government in which theDMK, the PMK and the MDMK are alliesand partners, has moved ahead decisivelyto bring to realization this technologychallenging and economically vitalproject. It is a project that will benefitlakhs of people through the creation ofnew jobs. It will stimulate trade andnavigation, and encourage tourism andother economic activity.The ambitious project has important national, regional andstragetic implications as it provides a continuous navigablesea lane running within our territorial waters. Tamil Nadu,particularly its southern districts, stands to gain significantly.Its coastal economy and its maritime trade will be boosted.I am aware that environmentalists have raised some issues.Fears have been expressed about the impact on coral reefs,for example. I am confident that the project authorities arealive and sensitive to these concerns and will implement theproject in a manner that protects and preserves the localecology.The fishermen communities also will need to be paidparticular attention. These communities, as the recenttsunami tragedy starkly reminded us, are amongst the mostvulnerable sections of our society. They need our care andconcern, and we must make sure that their interests areIt is a project that willbenefit lakhs of peoplethrough the creation ofnew jobs. It willstimulate trade andnavigation, andencourage tourism andother economic activity.protected, and that their welfare is central to our endeavours.When the tsunami struck the southern coast, we shared inyour sorrow and worked hard to ensure that the lakhs offamilies affected by the unprecedented calamity wereprovided adequate relief as quickly as possible. Our countryhad not seen a natural disaster of this magnitude and theprocess of rehabilitation and reconstruction is a continuingone. We are committed to implementing these plans speedily.Today’s youth is very keen on IT. We have ensured thatsoftware is now available in Tamil so that young boys andgirls from all over the state can acquire computer skills andliteracy. Our Government has already give Tamil the statusof a classical language.Our UPA government under theleadership of Dr. Manmohan Singh hasinitiated a food for work programme in anumber of districts in Tamil Nadu.Desalinization Plant␣␣for drinking water inChennai. Cotton yarn and garment havebeen exempted by ‘cenvat’ which shouldhelp millions of weavers. A majorAutomobile Testing Institute has beensanctioned. It is a project of 2000crores. Special schemes for leatherdevelopment has also been announced. Tamil Nadu has beencovered by the National Rural Health Mission.I could enumerate other programmes and projects that theUPA has introduced in Tamil Nadu but this is not the occasionto do so. What I do want to convey is the special positionthat Tamil Nadu occupies in the UPA. Dr. KalaignarKarunanidhi himself is one of the main architects of the UPAand he has helped guide our coalition over the past year.Once again, let me say how happy I am that theSethusamudram project is being launched today. Icongratulate and thank Thiru TR Baalu and all thoseassociated with this historic project. It is truly a day ofsatisfaction, a historic moment for Tamil Nadu and for thecountry.Thank you. ❖12Congress SandeshJuly, 2005
Sethusamudram ProjectPM Inaugurates Sethusamudram ProjectMADURAI: As Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh pressed the buttonhere on 2 July, signalling the beginning of work on the Rs. 2,427.40crore Sethusamudram channel.Three-and-a-half years from now, the project expected to act as acatalyst of industrial development, spur trade and commerce, promotecoastal shipping and generate employment, will be ready to receivethe first vessel.The project, whose first proposal dates back to 1860, is also ofstrategic importance. “This channel will be a bridge with ourneighbours,” said the Prime Minister. “I hope this project will benefitnot only us but (also) our neighbours. All of us have a common andshared destiny. Their prosperity is our prosperity; their welfare isour welfare.”Dr. Singh describedthe project as “one ofthe most ambitiousever to be conceivedin the Indian portsector” and said theinauguration of thework constitutedfulfillment of one ofthe promises madein the CommonM i n i m u mProgramme. “I amcertain that thepeople of this regionwill, in a few yearstime, see their livestransformed for thebetter by this project,” he said.The Centre was keen on developing ports with all forms of investment,from both the private and public sectors. “Over the next few years,we expect to see major transformation of all our ports, large andsmall, whether for shipping or for fishing,” he said.Dr. Singh announced the setting up of a world-class automobiletesting facility near Chennai. “This will be a major project that willattract huge investment both directly and indirectly. It will give aboost to Tamil Nadu’s already developed automotive sector. Let TamilNadu be a rival to Detroit in future,” he said.United Progressive Alliance chairperson Smt. Sonia Gandhi said thecoastal economy and maritime trade would receive a boost once theproject was complete.Describing the project as “technologically challenging andeconomically vital,” she said it would benefit lakhs of people throughthe creation of new jobs. “It is truly a day of satisfaction, a historicmoment for Tamil Nadu and for the country.”Smt. Gandhi said she was aware of the environmental issues involvedand added that she was confident that the project authorities were“alive and sensitive” to these concerns.“The fishermen communities also will need to be paid particularattention … They need our care and concern, and we must makesure that theirinterests areprotected, and thattheir welfare iscentral to ourendeavours,” shesaid.She said Tamil Naduhad a specialposition in the UPA.“What I do want toconvey is thespecial position thatTamil Naduoccupies in theUPA. Dr. KalaignarKarunanidhi (DMKpresident) himself isone of the main architects of the UPA and he has helped guide ourcoalition over the past year,” she said.Shri M. Karunanidhi detailed the long struggle from the time C.N.Annadurai was Chief Minister before the project was taken up forimplementation.The project envisages dredging of a ship channel in the shallowposition of the sea to the south of Tamil Nadu to connect the Gulf ofMannar and the Bay of Bengal through the Palk Strait so that shipsmoving between the east and west coasts could have a straightpassage within India’s territorial waters, instead of having to go aroundSri Lanka. ❖July, 2005Congress Sandesh13
Page 1 and 2: Rs. 10Vol. VII No. 11July, 2005CONG
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CONGRESS SANDESH COMPLETES ITS SEVEN YEAR

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