Archive for November, 2009

UNION TERRITORY STATUS FOR KARAIKAL

KARAIKAL UNION TERRITORY STRUGGLE GROUP

52, Church Street, Karaikal 609602, India: Tel +091-4368-224599

Hon. President N.Nandhivarman Chairman .K.Subramanian Vice-Chairman V.S.Nallusamy, General Secretary A.S.T.Ansari Babu Treasurer : S.Radhakrishnan ,Deputy Secretaries : R.Sundarraj, O.S.Uduman, C.Raja , Public Relations Officer: A.A.Rahman, Propaganda Secretary.K.Krishnakumar ,Youth Wing Secretary N.P.Kumanan, Deputy secretaries R.Ayyamperumal, A.Raja Mohammed, T.Dharpareswaran ,Agricultural Wing Secretary M.Sheikh Mohammed. Joint Secretary M.Singaravelu, Minority Wing Secretary S.George, Joint Secretary A.Ahamed Maraicar, Organizers: Karaikal North: S.M.Faried, Karaikal South M.I.Samsudeen, Kottucherry: Subha.Sureshrajan Nedungadu: M.Singaravelu, T.R.Pattinam; Karai Jinna, Neravy: T.K.S.M.Kanagasundaram

OPEN APPEAL TO UNION GOVERNMENT TO DECLARE KARAIKAL AS SEPERATE UNION TERRITORY

Respected Leader

Subject: Karaikal people reiterate their demand for Union Territory status to Karaikal, in case of Statehood is granted to Puducherry on lines of precedent laid out in Goa, Daman, Diu and Dadra and Nagar Haveli regarding

Media reports suggest that in this winter session a bill to make the Union Territory of Puducherry into a full-fledged State is likely to be introduced. You may be aware that Union Territory of Puducherry was never a contiguous area. During French rule it was knit together in spite of being enclaves separated by miles and miles. In Bengal too French had an enclave, which too would have remained with us, but fortunately Chandranagore merged with Bengal.

The Union Territory of Puducherry comprises of four coastal regions viz- Puducherry, Karaikal, Mahe and Yanam. Puducherry and Karaikal are situated on the East Coast in Tamil Nadu, Yanam in Andra Pradesh.

Mahe is in the West Coast in Kerala. Mahe which is 647 kms away from Puducherry covers an area of 9 Sq. kms with 36,000 inhabitants. Mahe is situated on the West Coast of the Indian Peninsula between 11 Degrees 42′ and 11 Degrees 43′ Northern Latitude, and between 75 Degrees 31′ and 75 Degrees 33′ Eastern Longitude, just between Badagara and Thalassery, 58 kilometers from Kozhikode, 24 kilometers from Kannur in Kerela State, Mahe with just 9 square kilometers and speaks Malayalam is ruled by main enclave Puducherry. It should be noted that closer to Mahe, the Union Territory of Lakshadeep with a population 60595 of Malayalam speaking people exists. In the case of Puducherry main enclave becoming state Mahe has three options: 1]. To remain with Puducherry or 2] to have separate Union Territory Status for Mahe or 3] to join with Union Territory of Lakshadeep. It has to be decided by a referendum as per the wishes of people of Mahe.

Yanam is one of the regions in the Union Territory of Puducherry. which is 870 Kms away from headquarters. It is situated on the East Coast of the Indian Peninsula at 16 degrees 42′ northern latitude, and between 82 degree 11' Eastern longitudes bounded on all sides by the East Godavari District of Andhra Pradesh State. The town of Yanam lies on the spot where the River Coringa (Atreya) branches off from Gauthami into two parts. The entire region, consisting of Yanam town and six villages is treated as Municipality for purposes of local administration. Yenam covers an area of 30.0 Square kilometers has a population of 31,362 according to the 2001 census. The demand for statehood to UT of Puducherry is vehemently opposed by Yenam's sole legislator who is in Cabinet of the Union Territory. Telugu media reports that this Minister who had taken oath under Constitution of India is so much upset with Puducherry becoming statehood collected 50000 signatures including children and went to France to submit a memorandum to French government unmindful of protocol or constitutional responsibility. This appeal to erstwhile colonial rulers exhibits his and Yenam people's anger against Statehood for Puducherry. Whatever future status Yenam wants can be determined by a referendum.

Whatever valid reasons the main enclave Puducherry advances to obtain statehood, is in no way endorsed by Karaikal enclave.

Karaikal region is far away from main enclave by 150 kms. It has an area of 161 sq. km. and population of 1, 70,640 as per the 2001 census.Karaikal region is made up of the Communes of Karaikal, Kottuchcheri, Nedungadu, Tirunallar, Niravi and Tirumalarajanpattinam.

This region since its merger with Indian Union and since it became a constituent of the Union Territory of Puducherry had received only step motherly treatment from the main enclave of Puducherry. Regional imbalances and continued neglect for five decades led to the birth of separate Union Territory status for Karaikal. Such grievances had even broken the State of Bihar into two states of Bihar and Jharkand. Hence it is needless to tell enlightened and eminent personality like you that to address the issue of regional resentment territories could be granted separate status. Now that Union Territory of Puducherry in the craze to have more powers for political masters has advanced a demand for elevating the UT into a State.

To seek your support to de-link the enclave of Karaikal from the Statehood status, and to get the Union Governments nod for conferring Union Territory status to Karaikal enclave, a contiguous region, we are mailing this appeal to you. Let us all look at Goa precedent.

Goa, a tiny emerald land on the west coast of India, the 25th State in the Union of States of India, was liberated from Portuguese rule in 1961. It was part of Union territory of Goa, Daman & Diu till 30 May 1987 when it was carved out to form a separate State.

At that time Daman, Diu and Dadra Nagarhaveli which has now a population of 1, 58,204 in 112 square kilometers were left to remain as separate Union Territory. Like that we demand that Karaikal be declared as Separate Union Territory while Statehood is conferred on Puducherry in this winter session of Parliament or later. Precedent exists. Other enclaves too can be made separate Union Territories if they seek or wish. But we from Karaikal region are clear in our goal. Yes we want Separate Union Territory Status for Karaikal. Enough with 5 decades of neglect and backwardness thrust on us.

The number of union territories is dwindling with former union territories becoming states; hence there is historical necessity to create more number of Union Territories to keep the purpose of the Act alive. It is needless to state that if major state rebels against Union and civil war erupt, Union Territories were security sanctuaries and spring board for security forces to regain and restore the integrity of India. With this forethought in mind, Union Territories Act was envisaged. To give life to this Act, we urge Karaikal be de-linked from Puducherry State and kept as separate Union Territory directly ruled by our President.

With Regards

Yours sincerely

N.Nandhivarman K.Subramanian A.S.T.Ansari Babu

Hon.President Chairman Gen.Secretary

V.S.Nallusamy S.Radhakrishnan R.Sundarraj

Vice Chairman Treasurer Deputy Secretary

 

TIRUPATHY : Whose Temple ?

Dr. K. JAMANADAS PROVES

TIRUPATI TEMPLE AS A BUDDHIST SHRINE

Introduction by Prof. Dr. M. D. Nalawade,
M.A., B.Ed., LL. B., Ph. D.,
Ex- Registrar,
Retd. Professor and Head of History Dept. Pune University,

The book by K. Jamanadas “Tirupati Balaji was a Buddhist Shrine” has potential credibility to create controversies unknown to historical writing and the Hindu common folks who flock to worship Tirupati Balaji as one of the supreme deities. It is also a new challenge to indologist at a time when politically imbued scholars are engaged to wash out their hands by proving and disproving claims of Hindus and the Muslims against each other as they did over the issue of Ayodhya Shrines. The writing of K. Jamanadas, but stand to the test of researchers and it surpasses all controversial writings relating to Hindu Muslim difference.

Of course, a reader while going through this book requires to be equipped with relative knowledge of the Vedic forms and symbols of worship and the creation of monkhood, prayers and practice of Buddhist way of religious life. The author does not show at any place, his intention to religiously injure anybody and his presentation is purely of academic nature. Neither he intends to dethrone Tirupati Balaji from his present glory nor his popularity. He also does not make any comment on his devotees and his paraphernalia, he has with him. His research is to find out the truth hidden in the origin, growth and glory and his relation with the common man.

An eminent surgeon turned to be an indologist, K. Jamanadas stands for operational methods in the historical research. His study of Tirupati Balaji is the best in the science of architecture, theology and history. It seems from his book that all the essentially necessary and available sources and historical writings related to Balaji are carefully taken into consideration. Of course, one can not confidently say that a new evidence may not come up hereafter.

Religious life and socio-cultural interactions, so also their amalgamations on philosophical lines as well as in day today life among the people of this ancient land have created numerous problems for separating and identifying a particular set of features in a religious life either of the Buddhist or the Hindus except broad features and major differences. The land is the same and the people are also the same, naturally customs and traditions that they have carried on for ages together can not go far away from each other than they were in their previous religious life. There can not be a total change in the manners and etiquettes by changing and earlier religion. The walks of people in the earlier native religion, then to the Vedic which is named by the foreigners as Hinduism and then to Non-Vedic religions i. e. Buddhism and Jainism are through which this land is traveled and people have common following and practices even contradictory customs and philosophies they have through such livings of them although they learnt many things and have come across many images, idols and symbols of worships. The institution of the Viharas in Buddhist period is the first one of its kind as an institution of Temple which attracted the masses to keep its existence either in the manner the Buddhist have or the manner the Brahmin changed to their convenience to influence the masses.

Originally Brahmins and their religion are centered around the system of the institution of Yadyna. The Yadynas of various types such as Isthi, Pashu, Som, Chayan, Sava, Satra and others, for their selfish motives of seeking food, prestige and power. The very institution of Yadyna is to make commoners by way of traits, traps and tricks for sacrifices, the Brahmins are to loose nothing but in all the circumstances gain and gain much more beyond their demands and needs. This is how the institution of Yadyna works.

Nowhere it is found and no text of the Brahmin literature tells that in pre-Buddhist time the Brahmins are vegetarians. The offerings and oblations offered to gods and goddesses so also, the sacrifices made in the Yadynas are basically originated in the minds and tastes of the Brahmins. As being the non - vegetarians or the flesh eaters Brahmins ask the masses to offer such things to gods and to them also. History, therefore of the vegetarian gods in Hinduism opens a new avenue for fresh research in Indology. In pre-Buddhist times cow was never a pious animal and Brahmins of those days are found very fond of cow flesh. Rigvedas are genuine witnesses for that, and the river Charmnyavati is the best example. There is enough of information to know as to how both of her banks are covered over by skins and her waters are redden by the flesh blood of cows and other animals washed into her waters. The very name of the river Charmnyavati in a Rigveda tells many more things as Charm - means skin. The river banks of this river are used for performing Yadynas and the cows are used in sacrifices on large scale in the Yadynas. The whole delta of the river seems to have seen as how Cow Satra - Killing of cows is carried on and the name, therefore, of the river Charmnyavati in a Rigveda confirms the same.

The institution of Yadyna and sacrificing or killing cows in it is very much vital if it is understood against the agricultural background of those times. In those days no other animals but bullocks are used mostly for tilling the soil. Killing of the cows means no bullocks and no bullocks means no farming, no agricultural products. As a result there is starvation and then submission to enemies or the rulers of the religion. The pre-Buddhist times, therefore, are worse in a regard to atrocities and injustices carried on, on the Peasant communities. Fortunately but lord Buddha understands the grave situation and stops cow sacrifices in the Yadynas and prevents the slaughtering of cows. He, thus becomes the First saviour of cows who preached farmers in ancient times not to offer cows to Brahmins and in the Yadynas. Under the circumstances it is very safe to hold a view that the adoption of cow as a pious one in later days and vegetarian food for gods and to the Brahmins for themselves is one of the greatest achievements of Buddhism, but it has to pay its cost in return of that achievement because the Brahmins adopted their means and methods to attract and lure the farming communities and attack Buddhism. It is thus the Hindus and the academicians have to admit that the creation of non - vegetarian gods is not the creation of the Brahmins. Therefore, it is in vain to trace out the origin of gods who are vegetarians in pre-Buddhist times. Morality and non-violence are never the cardinal principles of Brahminical teaching and religion. They are the Buddhist and they are most unacceptable for the Brahmins in those early days.

The institution of Temple that the Brahmins practice and which exists at ‘Tirupati Balaji’ and at all the places of the Hindus is origin in Buddhism as K. Jamanadas rightly states that there are a good number of evidences to prove those facts. The walks of people in the ancient times from one sect or religion to another, from native religion to Vedic, Vedic to Non-Vedic religions that is Buddhism and jainism and then back to Mixed- Vedic or Brahminical religion, although, outwardly, have changed them in adopting different religious names and ultimately, the Brahminism to which popularly called as Hinduism, they continued to practice many of the customs and traditions they liked most and were most difficult for them to unalienate. And to their convenience Brahmins have very skillfully converted Buddhists forms of worship and prayers quite in consonance to Brahminical or Hindu ideals. Therefore, separation and identification of many images, idols and temples have become to show exactly that they either belong to Buddhists or Hindus but as Buddhism is made to disappear, Brahmins claimed them, in totality as the Hindus. And the history of Hindu vegetarian gods is certainly hidden in such changes and conversions from Buddhism to Hinduism.

The book is divided into four parts, but the main theme is dealt with in the second and third parts. Part first naturally begins with earlier findings and interpretations about the strife between Buddhism and Brahminism. The mature saintly opinion of Swami Vivekanand that ” Buddhism was mainly responsible for stopping or lessening the customs of drinking wine and killing living animals for sacrifice or for food in India” during the dominance and arrogance of the Brahminical period is given at very appropriate instance. “Buddhism and Vaishnavism are not two different things” as is stated by the Great Swami to make clear that, “During the decline of Buddhism in India, Hinduism tool from her a few cardinal tenets of conduct and made them her own, and these have now come to be known as Vaishnavism”. The author, not out of vindictive mood, but purely from academic interest collected sources and evidences, that too again from the Hindu saints and scholars to reveal the truth and truth alone as the proud heritage of this ancient land.

Brahmin’s usurpation and imitation of the Buddhist customs, traditions and ideals, so also of forms of architecture , art and sculpture are very common and long back indologists and historians like R. G. Bhandarkar and D. D. Kosambi have brought all those thing to light. The sites at Ter, Aihole, Undavali, Ellora, Badrinatha, Ayodhya, Sringeri, Buddha Gaya and other religious important places have ably been shown as how richly influenced by Buddhist religion and culture and Brahmins have adopted them to their tastes to make the masses feel religiously at home as the Hindus. A fresh touch is given to reascertain for the proved facts by R. G. Bhandarkar, R. C. Dhere and others that the temples of Lord Jagannatha of Puri, Vithalla of Pandharpur, Ayyappa of Kerala, Srisailam of Karnataka and many others as they were originally the Buddhist temples.

The real task of discovering Lord Tirupati as the Buddhist Shrine starts in the Second part. The history given of the worship of Vishnu needs to be added by the information of hymns in Rigveda. Max Muller, Muir and Wilson who have well explained the importance of Vishnu and his Three Strides - Trivikrama. In the Purnsha - Sukta of the Yajurvda (1-31-32) has his description. And to collaborate the original concept of his creation and creating his three different images and the necessities of the Brahmins to convert him in appearance like lord Buddha are not unintentional and without any selfish motive. The author has ably proved that such efforts of the Brahmins have expected good results for them to show their superiority over Buddhism. The chapters- Hindu Shilpa Shastra on Vishnu Images, Nature Image of the Lord of Tirumalai, Is the Image of a Female deity, Is the Lord A Harihara Murthi, and the Account In Venkaechala Itihas Mala, are interesting and thought provoking. They make even commoners to think twice whether he is worshiping Buddhist images or Hindu images and what is his place in such a controversies The reference from a book of Shri. Sitapati P., on Shri. Venkateswara is of great importance in support of author’s theory on Tirupati Balaji. The reference runs -”The image (of Lord Tirumalai) bears some resemblance to the famous Budhisattva Padmapani painting in cave I of the Ajanta Hills”. This statement, is thus, self explanatory to record the attempts.

Part third of the book has debased old challenges of the Hindu claims in South India. How “not only ideals and morals but also temples were taken over by Brahmins” has been aptly shown quoting well known authorities in the field and interpreting the original sources. It is very interesting to know the even Tirtha Yatras are started by the Buddhists and the Brahmins followed them from the Buddhist traditions to forget their earlier Buddhist religion and traditions. The Kalavars and Kalabhras, the names of clans and families quite in resemblance to Kalewar, kalawad or Kalawade and kalbhor, Bhor, Kalmegh and even Kale in Maharashtra are not without their historical roots. The Kalabhras mentioned by the author belonged to Chola country and are the Buddhist, but later on converted to Brahminism.

The claim put forth by the author on Lord Tirupati Balaji as a Buddhist Shrine is based on sound theory and the evidences approved and accepted by the academicians. The fundamental questions which needs to be correctly answered to prove Tirupati Balaji as a Buddhist Shrine have the following points and which are well taken into account–

1. Yet why the attributes of Murthi are not allowed to be discussed openly and publicly?

2. Tirupati has no parivar devatas, his family members as gods. why?

3. And as to why it is the only ek-devata temple in whole of India.?

4. There was no regular worship of this Tirupati till 966 A. D, Why was it?

5.Why the various murthis are not recognised in this temple by their Agamic names?

The term “self manifested” applied to Tirumalai means that the Murthi or idol is existed earlier and it is at that place only. It is found by one Shudra Rangadasa. Then it is resurrected and worshiping it began. Before the Muslims came, Buddhists are the only people who opposed the Brahmins. But no Buddhist King nor Buddhist people are intolerant towards the Brahmins and no evidence is yet produced by any scholar proving that the Buddhists or any Buddhist King made efforts for destroying Brahminical images, idols or places of worship. In fact the Brahmins have done hundreds of such things and they are in reality the enemies of the Buddhists. Hence allowing the Murthi or idol of Tirumalai uncared, then the quarrel over its possession in between the Vaishnavism and Shaivism, all such matter never happens in case of the original idols of Hindu or Brahminical gods. Fortunately till this day this Lord is mistaken and misunderstood as Shiva or Vishnu and as the Vaishnavaites and Shavaites claim him as if he belongs to one of the two, he grows in eminence. In reality the place and the idol are the Buddhist one, which eternally convey the message of well being to all people.

Temple institution is the creation of the Buddhist people and to grab that glory the Brahmins have usurped the Buddhists Temples for their selfish purpose and to attract the masses and then have converted those temples into Hindu forms making necessary changes and alterations. A good number of authorities have proved long ago and many of the authorities on the subject like R. G. Bhandarkar, Percy Brown, G. S. Ghurey, L. M. Joshi, D. D. Kosambi, K. A. N. Sastri, K. R. Vaidyanthan and others have been taken into consideration in the spirit and letters they presented numerous sources and evidences.

So far the story of Lord of Tirumalai stands historically and on the basis of the available sources it is a Buddhist Shrine. Right from its name, fashions and styles, so also customs like the Tonsure, offering of hair and Rathyatra it is all in one - the Buddhist way. Rathayatra is not originated in the Brahminical life due to caste system and observance of untouchability and touch no one those who even from your kin and kith if they are unbathed and the women of their blood also. Under the circumstances Rathayatra tradition is certainly of the Buddhist origin and where ever it is carried on, the places and gods are the Buddhists, without any doubt. The author K. Jamanadas has maintained throughout his work a very high standard of argument and at all instances he placed either the authorities or the evidence in support of his argument and statements.

Although in the socio-cultural life of this country, it introverts all of those who have their origin in this land, to positively come up for better understanding as if it is vicissitude as the times and culture demand. A good lesson will also be derived out of the reading of this thesis for making this land as if of one people with an appeal to both the Hindus and the Muslims to know their best of heritage and noble humane way of life in Buddhism as one people, blessed and guided eternally by that Great, Supreme Lord, Bhagawn Buddha, the Great.

[ The bloodthirsty neo-hitler Rajapakshe who demolishes Hindu temples in Tamil land visited Tirupathi. Why did he visit ? My search began, I found this article. I will search further, you readers too must go deep into this matter... N.Nandhivarman]

 

10000 YEAR OLD TAMIL PORT CITY IN DANGER

UNEARTH SUBMERGED CHOZHA PORT POOMPUHAR:STOP COAL BASED POWER PLANT: TAMILNADU URGED

The Collector of Nagapattinam District called for a public hearing on 23.09.2009 but cancelled at eleventh hour. Then public hearing took place on 28.10.2009 at Keezhaperumpallam village near Poompuhar.I was in New Delhi hence I missed it. But I handed over the following memorandum in person to the District Collector on 3oth.

Respected Collector

Subject: Historical and Environmental reasons cited to oppose the proposed Thermal Power plant regarding

We appreciate the District Collector of Nagapattinam for calling for this public enquiry. Our views will be in Tamilfs historical interest and the traditional rights of indigenous communities like fishermen and farmers of Tamilnadu.

Pichavaram to Kodikarai is highly important area for unearthing our civilization since ancient harbours existed in this belt with hidden heritage at sea. It needs to be subjected to researches highly important for marine archaeology and coastal archaeology.

Already 250 km out of 1076 km of Tamilnadu coast is without fishermen. The need for preserving the catamaran people and their traditional knowledge is important. Hence all development projects must aim at protecting indigenous communities like fishermen and farmers and should not uproot them from where for centuries they made a livelihood. In fact more assistance to these communities with new scientific equipments would enable them to earn more foreign exchange to our countryfs coffers than offering soaps at the cost of public exchequer to projects of plunder. Generating alternative renewable energy like ocean thermal energy, ocean tidal energy will be more helpful. Developed countries have bid adieu to thermal power. Coal bearing ships and conveyer arrangement will be hazard for the coastal area and will stimulate global warming through carbon discharge. The waste generated from plant will create pollution at sea .Thoothukudi lost its pearl culture of the past cultural heritage by the non ocean oriented people. Bearing these in mind we urge the Government of Tamilnadu to stall all thermal power projects coming up in Nagapattinam District, more particularly the one near Poompuhar.

¥ We all are aware that apart from the Indus Valley excavations, equally important cities of our ancient civilization could not so far be unearthed in South India due to our own lethargy. We have stone inscriptions, copper plates and burial pots and this is not sufficient to establish the greatness of our past. Our literary evidences on submergence of ancient Tamil land illuminate us about our past but western scholars look for more scientific proof. Hence there is a need for undersea-archaeological search to find out our roots. No other ethnic group of Earth possesses so much literary evidences but remains lazy to go to the submerged cities of their ancient land. Though we have a place named as Poompuhar where Dr.Kalaignar M.Karunanithi during his rule erected monuments to recapture the past, it could only serve as tourist spot and could not satiate a researcherfs quest to unravel a hidden city of our ancient civilization beneath the bowels of our sea in Bay of Bengal. We all know about the changes that continuously occur and the ancient Port City of Chozha Empire is not the Poompuhar of our times, but it is within the sea nearer or far to current Poompuharfs coast.

¥ Graham Hancock wrote many books out of which Underworld: The Mysterious Origins of Civilization by Crown Publishers, New York 2002 containing 760 pages ISBN 1400046122 hardback priced $ 27.50 is of relevance to our Poompuhar. He undertook marine archaeology in 2002 and brought out as reported in Dinamani that a city with 9500 year old civilization remains hidden off coast of Poompuhar. [Dinamani news clipping enclosed] His earlier books Fingerprints of the Gods and Heavenfs Mirror had mentioned about his findings. But in this latest book, he lays out evidence gbased on modern scientific research, comparative mythology, religious and spiritual observances, first hand diving exploration of underwater megalithic structures and ancient maps to demonstrate the likelihood that a technically advanced civilization unrecognized by modern science capable of navigating the globe and with a profound understanding of architecture and building existed and was washed out by global floodingh.

¥Inundation maps created by Dr.Glen Milne of Durham University shows vast tracts of mostly coastal land which were submerged by three waves of cataclysmic flooding between 17,000 and 8000 years ago. Nearly 5 percent of Earthfs surface or 25 million square kilometers of land stands submerged. These maps and other sources made Graham Hancock to set his foot in Tamilnadu. Graham Hancock used scuba diving and found many artifacts and evidences roughly 2000 pieces which he displayed in Bangalore exhibition, as per media reports of the day. Graham Hancock had updated Tamil history to 9500 years old.

¥We like parrots were repeating 2000 years as time limit of our ancient civilization, and when Graham Hancock updated Tamil history with fresh facts, the Government of Tamilnadu which is going to celebrate World Tamil Conference, must take pains to employ more scuba divers and marine archaeologists to find out about our Kaveripoompattinam. We should honour Graham Hancock in that Conference.

¥The coast or sea near Poompuhar should not be plundered and kept free from industrialization if our ancient glory brought out powerfully by Dr.Kalaignar had to be proven scientifically. Mr.Graham Hancock investigated about our gKumari Kandam, an anti-diluvia civilization said to have existed thousands of years ago around South India. It is believed to have been a greater center of learning with magnificent academies which may have left a legacy of cartographic and astronomical knowledge which exists today in the ancient Indian texts. Interestingly the author spoke to local fishermen who described often diving to free their nets caught on underwater temples and columns, pyramidal pagodas and buildings with doorwaysh.

¥Coinciding to our Poompuhar, in Gulf of Cambay to city which is 7500 years old was found but media highlighted that and did not do justice to Poompuharfs findings. If a scientist within few weeks with the help of National Institute of Oceanography could bring out so many artifacts, is it not the duty of Tamilnadu Chief Minister Dr.Kalaignar M.Karunanithi who instilled in our hearts the greatness of Poompuhar by his powerful pen to employ all scientists, marine archaeologists, scuba divers, and constitute a multi disciplinary State-Sponsored Task Force under Anna University and Tamil University of Thanjavur to explore our exclusive economic zone and our territorial waters in Bay of Bengal at least to begin with to pick up the thread from where Mr. Graham Hancock left in 2002.

¥¥ Dravida Peravai hence appeals to the District Collector of Nagapattinam in the public hearing on Public Hearing on the proposed 2×500 MW Coal Based Power Plant by M/s. PEL Power Ltd to stop this power project. Allowing such plants to be set up here with whatever technology will disrupt the scientific and historical research that is needed to unearth our past beneath Bay of Bengal off Poompuhar. We are enclosing a map which shows how much land near our coast had been submerged.

This is an indication of how much more land would have been submerged for centuries running into thousands of years back. My article Save the Coast in New Indian Express is enclosed.Letting out effluents or dumping waste into rivers and seas had been going on unabated though technically they will promise to use clean technology and blinded by that promise our environmental agencies will give them clearance. First of all we should bear in mind what all technology we get is outmoded and unwanted in developed countries, hence such technologies are dumped on developing countries like India. If we are really a super power we should follow the Swedish precedent to completely abandon thermal power projects to save its environment. Here it is not only to save our environment but also to prove to the world we are an ancient civilization, we need to keep Poompuhar coast and seas close to Poompuhar free from industrial garbage and litter.

¥Coal based power projects are being set up in Tamilnadu coast. There seems to be a policy which permits setting up of power plants near coal mines, so that through National Power grid equivalant quantum of power can reach the power seeking State. Under this policy a current Union Minister of State before he came to power got a Coal Block allotted in Orissa.In this project of a Tamilnadu politician Puducherry Governmentfs PIPDIC is a partner. This joint venture plans to set up power project in Orissa to generate power and pass on to the grid so that Puducherry Government will get power without polluting the Union Territory of Puducherry. If a tiny state like Puducherry could follow this route, what compulsion prevails for Tamilnadu to bring coal all the way by ships to set up a power plant in the Nagapattinam coast that too near ancient Port city of Poompuhar?

¥ There seems to be a race to set up more and more ports without planning what products could be brought in or exported from these ports. The Former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee when he visited Kanyakumari announced a scheme called Sagar Mala, which means Garland of the Seas. In fact I mooted the suggestion to create a National Seaway on the lines of National Highways to introduce ship connectivity to all the 138 minor or intermediary ports to bring inland cargo that was coming by Lorries and to ferry passengers. This suggestion through Planning Commission reached then Prime Minister who wanted to make use of existing infrastructure to connect all ports in Indian coast. At that time only Gujarat particularly Gujarat Maritime Board was making good use of its minor ports. Tamilnadu which launched a Poompuhar Shipping Corporation under DMK rule lost the race by making its vessels ferry coal and did not think of diverting cargo and passengers from road use to sea lanes. Roads could be re-laid year by year but traffic congestion, loss of lives, making more and more lanes, land acquisition etc could be avoided if our existing ports could be connected under the Sagar mala scheme of Vajpayee. Instead opening new ports with no cargo to handle breeds even sand smuggling to Maldives which was caught red handed by you, the Honfble Collector. Hence we Dravida Peravai, a splinter of DMK but with great regard for Dr.Kalaignar in view of personal friendship undiminished by parting of ways, urge Nagapattinam to accord to priority to unearth our ancient city of Kaveripoompattinam and keep this coast free from polluting industrialization.

¥Interestingly the National Institute of Oceanography , Chennai had announced that its scientists in collaboration with Experimental Design Bureau of Oceanological Engineering of the Russian Academy of Sciences had developed a vehicle named ROSUB 6000 capable of exploring the ocean up to a depth of 6 kilometers and can be remotely operated. Though we have to go further deep not only off the coast of Poompuhar but also even beyond our exclusive economic zone, this vehicle could be used to gather further evidences on our submerged Port City of Poompuhar.

¥International Seabed Authority has allocated 150,000 square kilometers of seabed in the Indian Ocean to India for exploration of cobalt, manganese, nickel and copper which are in the form of polymetalic nodules. Well Government of India will be happily exploring Indian Ocean for minerals and metals but let Government of Tamilnadu explore Indian Ocean to discover the lost continent of Kumari and the Port Cities of Chera, Chozha and Pandyas, including the ancient capitals of Thonmadurai and Kavadapuram which our literature speaks.

With Regards

Yours sincerely

N.Nandhivarman

General Secretary Dravida Peravai

 

WAKE UP CALL TO INDIAN PRIME MINISTER

CHINA : BIGGEST THREAT TO INDIA

copy of the letter sent to

Hon'ble Thiru.Manmohan Singh 19.10.2009

Prime Minister of India

Hon'ble Thiru.S.M.Krishna

Minister for External Affairs Government of India

Respected Prime Minister and External Affairs Minister

Subject: China-phobia justified and appeals to counter Chinese expansionism detrimental to world peace . regarding

Thailand, chairman of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) for 2009, will be hosting the 15th ASEAN Summit and related meetings during Oct. 23-25 in southern beach resort town Cha-am and Hua Hin, media reports. In this crucial time, Dravida Peravai, a political party from India appeals to India to discuss with the leaders of ASEAN countries the inevitability to ponder carefully each and every move of China and arrive at a common strategy to counter its conspiracies.

We from India welcome regional cooperation but at same time we would like to caution the nations of the ASEAN through you about the geo-political ambitions of China which will erode the other nation's sovereignty and cause great havoc to their economies.

1. Beware of attack on Dollar regime: India and China are now members of the Financial Stability Board, the apex institution to monitor global risks of financial crisis. Their voting shares in the International Monetary Fund will also be slightly increased through an accelerated quota reform process. However post-reform the USA will retain its de-facto veto power with a 17 percent share and the US, EU and Japan will control 53 percent of IMF shares. Individually the shares of US, UK, France and Japan will still be larger than China's share of fewer than 4 percent. Hence China had planned a new offensive according to Professor of National Institute of Public Finance and Policy Mr.Sudipto Mundle.

"Zhou Xiaochuan, Governor of the Chinese Central Bank on the eve of G-20 summit suggested that dollar should be replaced with SDR's as the new reserve currency. The huge dollar reserves held by Central Banks and other global investors would be severely eroded if the dollar were to suddenly depreciate. Yet these investors cannot easily diversify away from the dollar since this itself would trigger dollar depreciation. The Chinese are particularly concerned that an estimated 1 trillion dollars of their total reserves of around 2 trillion are held in dollar asset. The SDR exchange rate is a weighted average of exchange rates of the major convertible currencies. Accordingly under Zhou's proposals, China and other countries could convert their reserves from dollars to SDR's at current exchange rates without any erosion in their value. Implementing such a proposal would also mark the end of the dollar as reserve currency. This is the game plan of China which has let the cat out of its bag.

If China launches SDR missiles to strike at the Dollar regime, India and all ASEAN countries economies will collapse. USA realizing the Chinese designs had been urging India to sign End-use Monitoring Agreement, Communications Interoperability and Security Memorandum agreement, and Logistics Support Agreement. China causes grave concern for USA, hence USA urges India to sign these pacts. China had become emboldened to say to USA to concentrate on western Pacific and China will look after eastern Pacific. Pacific Command Chief Admiral Timothy J Keating had recently exposed this game. It is high time that all those ASEAN nations which are boasting about Free Trade be aware of the future assaults on dollar that will boomerang on their currencies and collapse their economies. India had to wage a diplomatic offensive against China.

2. Beware of Counterfeit currencies:

The crime of counterfeiting currency as a means of warfare, such as in the War Between the States in the USA in the mid-1800s and the Bernhard Operation in Europe during the Second World War is practiced. India is being flooded with counterfeit currency. The idea was to overflow the India’s economy with fake banknotes, so that the real value of the said money was reduced; therefore, attacking the economy and general welfare of a society. The INTERPOL Counterfeits and Security Documents Branch (CSDB) is responsible for establishing programs that provide forensic support, operational assistance, and technical databases in order to assist the 188 member countries of INTERPOL regarding counterfeit currency. PTI, Indian news agency reported this year about Indian businessmen given Chinese counterfeit currency at an International Exhibition in China. Hence all member nations must be made vigilant about flooding of their countries with counterfeit currencies. Hence India should seek special investigation by Interpol pumping counterfeit currencies in India and ASEAN countries.

3. Unilateral Maritime Boundary by China:

China had gone for fixing unilateral maritime boundaries of the nations of South China Seas as recently reported in Times of India by seasoned diplomat G.Parthasarathy. This does not augur well for the fishing industry and fishermen of nations bordering South China Seas. International Seabed Authority had earmarked 1, 50,000 square kilometers in Indian Ocean for India to explore cobalt, manganese, Copper and nickel etc. Similarly the ASEAN countries more particularly ASEAN countries with access to South China Seas will be having rights over specified areas for them as per International Sea-bed Authority. In exercising such powers they will realize that China had put a spokes in their wheel by unilaterally encroaching their respective maritime boundary or violating the exclusive economic zones. So let common wisdom be evolved among ASEAN nations to be vigilant about the ASEAN plus nation called China. India should play its role as catalyst.

4. China gets foothold in Arabian Sea:

The location of the Republic of Maldives astride the major sea lanes in the Indian Ocean is of strategic relevance to India. — Ministry of Defense's annual report, 2000. 27 July 2001: China has engineered a manner of a coup by coaxing Maldives‘ Abdul Gayoom government to let it establish a base in Marao. Marao is one of the largest of the 1192 coral islands grouped into atolls that comprise Maldives and lies 40 km south of Male, the capital. Coral islands make fine submarine pens. The Peoples’ Liberation Army Navy or PLAN proposes to deploy nuclear submarines fitted with sea-launched Dong Feng-44 missiles and ballistic missiles (SLBMs) in Marao. The base deal was finalized after two years of negotiations when Chinese Prime Minister Zhu Rongji visited Male on 17 May 2001 on his four-nation South Asian tour. It marks a high point in China’s ambitious - and audacious - plan to encircle India and choke its emergent blue-water navy in the Indian Ocean itself. But once Marao comes up in 2010, China’s power projection in the Indian Ocean will stabilize. It will also set China on the course followed in the earlier superpower, Cold War rivalry between the US and the Soviet Union. Both states built a series of naval bases throughout the world for emergency counter-offensive measures. China is embarked on doing the same. American worry: These developments have worried the US that has proposed to its ASEAN allies and friendly countries to create a joint command to contain China and prevent its expansion in the South China Sea and the Indian Ocean. The US is keen for India to hasten construction of the Far Eastern Naval Command in the Andaman Islands, and this was repeated by the chairman of the US joint chiefs, General Henry H. Shelton, who visited India recently. Specific to the Marao base, the US sent navy chief Dennis Blair to Maldives a month after Rongji’s visit to take stock of China’s military diplomacy. While the US base in Diego Garcia can launch surprise offensives, the US wants to restrict Chinese presence in the Indian Ocean because of its strategic value. According to one survey, some $260 billion worth of oil and gas will be shipped through the Indian Ocean by year 2004. The oil route stretching from the Strait of Malacca to the Strait of Hormuz will be at the mercy of any power that dominates the sea lanes. A Chinese base in Marao islands puts it in a direct position to influence oil commerce. It is a prospect that daunts India, scares Southeast Asia, and alarms the US.

We appeal to ASEAN summit to think about their sea-lanes and its safety in case of differences with China.

5. China-Pakisthan-North Korea Axis:

As late as October 2000, Pakistani and North Korean nuclear and metallurgical scientists were invited to observe the mating of miniaturized nuclear warheads and missile systems at China's Lop Nor nuclear facility in Xingjian province. Of all the nuclear weapon States, China uses nuclear and missile technology transfers as part of its national security policy. It is not a coincidence that both Pakistan and North Korea owe a greater part of their nuclear and missile capabilities to China. Both were seen as important to realizing the twin goals of Beijing's Asia policy: "contain India and restrain Japan". The U.S. Ambassador to China, Clark Randt, has gone on record to describe China's proliferation of strategic technologies as "a make-or-break issue for us." That China was the chief instrument by which Pakistan got its bomb is well-known. What is not so well-known is the growing North Korea-Pakistan nuclear and missile nexus. While Pyongyang has served as a conduit for ballistic missile supplies to Pakistan, the latter has shared its weapons-capable highly uranium enrichment technology with the North Korean regime. Furthermore, Pakistan (along with China and North Korea) has a growing military relationship with Myanmar's military junta. It is noteworthy that Myanmar had last year granted sanctuary to two Pakistani nuclear scientists wanted by the US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) following a personal telephone call from Musharraf. The two nuclear scientists, Dr Suleiman Asad and Dr Mohammad Ali Mukhtar, were flown to Sagaing Division of Myanmar in November 2001. They were apparently moved out of the country to avoid the fate that befell their two other counterparts, Dr Bashiruddin Mehmood, the former chief of the Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission, and Chaudhury Abdul Majid. Both Mehmood and Majid are under investigation for their alleged links with Osama bin Laden's Al-Qaeda network. Myanmar's growing links with Pakistan's nuclear establishment assume significance in the light of the formers recent purchase of a nuclear reactor and a dozen sophisticated MiG-29 fighters from Russia and conventional arms shopping in North Korea. Myanmar, North Korea and Pakistan are militarist regimes, weak and failing States that have initiated conflicts against their neighbors. Islamabad and Pyongyang also have a penchant for engaging in a game of brinkmanship, belligerence and nuclear blackmail and coercion to change the territorial status-quo (at times with overt and covert backing from Beijing).

Proliferation of weapons of mass destruction to and from radicalized, nuclearized and volatile Pakistan or the unpredictable, regime of North Korea or military-dominated Myanmar and Wahabi clergy-dominated Saudi Arabia certainly does not bode well for peace and stability. says Professor of Security Studies at the Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies, Honolulu, U.S.A. India must evolve suitable counter strategy. In fact USA-USSR cold war is past but Indo-China Cold war is ground reality.

6. South China Seas: Vietnam must be vigilant

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao and his Vietnamese counterpart Nguyen Tan Dung pledged to properly handle border and South China Sea issues on Friday while hailing bilateral trade and economic ties between the two. He pledged to work along with Vietnam to cope with the international financial crisis, promote trade and speed up cooperation with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). Vietnam will keep high-level exchanges, stimulate trade and two-way investment as well as cooperate with China in regional economic development programs, Dung vowed to properly settle the South China Sea issue and other problems via friendly negotiation with China so as to preserve the development of bilateral ties. As the rotating president of ASEAN, Vietnam will play a positive role in boosting ASEAN-China cooperation, Dung acknowledged. But Vietnam must be made to think of Mekong River waters, which it wont receive due to Chinese water aggression. India must generate this awareness to Vietnam

7. MONOPOLIZING MEKONG RIVER and CHINESE:

This is bad news for the 60 million people that live in the Mekong Basin. For the many poor people who depend on the abundant resources of the Mekong River, their source of protein and livelihoods from fisheries and other aquatic resources have not been affected so far by the China's designs over Mekong. The Basin is home to fisheries that yield about 2.5 million tons of fish per year and, at first point of sale, amount to an industry worth at least US$2 billion annually. It is the largest inland fishery in the world. These communities depend on the river as a resource, and are often outside the mainstream economy. They are insulated from global economic fluctuations precisely because they depend so closely on natural systems and not the broader economy for their survival. This is the strength of the natural river system; especially the biodiversity and productivity of the wetlands, marshes, swamps, ponds, lakes and flood plains, and it underlines why the river system is so important for poverty alleviation. Mekong and its tributaries are vital links for transport and commerce in the region.

A pragmatic and internationally accepted way found in the 1995 Mekong Agreement, which Cambodia, the Lao PDR, Thailand and Vietnam signed when they established the Mekong River Commission (MRC). The MRC is the intergovernmental body responsible for cooperation on the sustainable management of the Mekong Basin, whose members include Cambodia, the Lao PDR, Thailand and Vietnam. In dealing with these challenges, it looks across all sectors including sustaining fisheries, identifying opportunities for agriculture, maintaining the freedom of navigation, assessing the sustainability of hydropower, flood management and preserving ecosystems. Superimposed on these are the future effects of more extreme floods, prolonged drought and sea level rise associated with climate change. In providing its advice, the MRC aims to facilitate a broad range of dialogue among governments, the private sector and civil society on these challenges. The MRC is working with its member governments and upstream partners, China and Burma, to ensure these factors are taken into account when planning water-based development in the region.

But you all are aware that China refuses to join the MRC, while building dams across Mekong River. In 1986 China started constructing dams across Mekong River and it has now completed the 4 th biggest dam that will dry the entire Mekong River basin for which Mekong River Commission had been established by 5 countries of South East Asia. Mekong is the worlds 11 th longest river and all such plans to block the river waters within China will create great havoc and cause human losses in the countries of Thailand, Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam where Mekong empties itself in South China Seas. There won't be any water, when all waters are arrested within China. Hence ASEAN leaders must emulate the protest lodged by Thailand Prime Minister Thiru.Abisit Vejjajiva on August of 2009 with 11000 signatures. The irony is instead of putting up a united front against Chinese water aggression, Laos , Cambodia and Thailand had woken up to construct dams within their countries leaving the tail end Vietnam to suffer like Tamilnadu in India, where states like Karnataka and Kerala show adamancy in water hijacking.

8. DIVERTING BRAHMAPUTRA:

Yangtze, Indus and Brahmaputra originate in Tibet now under Chinese possession. Half of the population of the world lives in the river basins of rivers that emanate from Tibet. Brahmaputra is known as Yarlung Tsangpo River in Tibet. China is diverting that river waters to Yangtze known as yellow river, which flows within China. 750 Hydel power stations have been set up across Tibet. As per World Commission on Dams statistics of 2003 there are 22000 dams across China. We have no objection for China to harness its rivers that emanate and flow within its territory. But blocking Indus by dams and Pakistan protesting is another story. Indian silence over Brahmaputra waters being diverted shows sad state of Indian bureaucrats in slumber. International Rivers cannot be hijacked by one country. The Campaign Director of International Rivers.org Mr.Aviva Imhof states that "The head waters of most of the major rivers of Asia are in Tibet and damming them could have implications downstream."

Hence, Dravida Peravai urges Indian Prime Minister and Indian External Affairs Minister to discuss threadbare with ASEAN leaders the River Waters Issue, which is more serious than any other issue in their agenda.

With Regards Yours fraternally

N.Nandhivarman General Secretary Dravida Peravai

 

OPPOSING COAL BASED POWER PLANTS IN KALAIGNAR’S HOME VILLAGE

The Collector of Nagapattinam District 30.10.2K9

Officials of Tamilnadu Pollution Control Board.

http://beta.thehindu.com/news/states/tamil-nadu/article41059.ece

Respected Representatives of the Government of Tamilnadu

On the eve of the public hearing on the proposed1820 MW Coal Based Power Plant by M/s. Tridem Port and Power Co. Ltd., & 150 MW Coal Based Power Plant by M/s. Nagapattinam Energy Pvt. Ltd, we are submitting our views to oppose the coal based thermal power plants.

We would like to bring to your notice that within Union Cabinet there is difference of opinion which came to public light after The Hindu, a daily carried out the following news:

¨‹ The Hindu, English daily reported on July 5 th of 2009 that Environment and Forest Minister Jairam Ramesh has written to Power Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde seeking to put an end to laying of foundation stones for projects without proper and formal clearances and advising all state power PSUs like National Thermal Power Corporation, National Hydro Power Corporation , Sutlej Jal Vidyut Nigam and North Eastern Electric Power Corporation to show greater sensitivity to environmental concerns at the highest level.

Under such situation we would urge the Nagapattinam District Administration and Tamil nadu Government to have a re-think on all coal based thermal power projects.

¨‹ Recent news from our neighbor China as reported in China Daily dated October 28 th of 2009 states that Chinese Environment ministry had suspended or rejected 29 applications of new construction in petrochemical, steel-making and electricity-generating industries with a total investment of 146.7 billion yuan (US$21.5 billion).Chinese government has promised that its economic stimulus plan would not compromise anti-pollution efforts and policies would not be loosened to allow more projects to pass environmental examinations. Environmental Protection Minister Zhou Shengxian said the government would abide by strict environmental standards when evaluating new projects.

Unfortunately Tamilnadu is not observing strict environmental standards. It craves for power at all costs.

►Tamilnadu has 4 major thermal power plants producing 2970 MW of power. The Hindu, daily dated 6 th February 2009 carries a confession by the Chairman of Tamilnadu Pollution Control Board. Mr.R.Balakrishnan admits that thermal power plants in coastal areas of the state are not meeting pollution control standards. If truth could come out of Chairman¡¯s mouth, our voices in protesting power plants stands justified by international, national and regional yardsticks.

► Thermal Power Plant in Tuticurin, a joint venture between Neyveli Lignite Corporation 89% and Tamilnadu Electricity Board with 11% stake is a 4000 crore project aiming to generate 1000 MW. Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited and Tamilnadu Electricity Board have joined together to start 1600 MW power project at a cost of Rs.8700 crore in Tuticurin District.

The coal from Neyveli has to be carried by congested roads to Tuticurion. It can be argued that it goes within our state from one part to other. Also by sea route coal may get transported. One can say within the source of raw material i.e. our state power project comes up.

Even this could be assimilated for argument sake but not bringing 4.6 million tons of coal annually from Orissa to Ennore port in order to enable Tamilnadu Energy Company, a joint venture between National Thermal Power Corporation and Tamilnadu Electricity Board to generate 1000 MW at Vallur in Tiruvallore District of Tamilnadu. The cost is 4500 crores.

¨There is a national policy to set up power plants near mine heads, where coal is mined. Under such policy instead of bringing coal from Orissa to Ennore, Tamilnadu could have planned to set up power plant in Orissa and pass on power to national grid and then draw equal quantum here through national grid. By this way Tamilnadu could have had power as well as avoided unnecessary construction of new harbors and unnecessary pollution of our soil.

Mind boggling statistics reveals that Ashok Leyland Project, First Corp Petrochem project, UTL Utility Systems project, Essar Power, GMR Power, Trichy Power Project and Coal and Oil Company of Dubai¡¯s project which have planned to produce 1000 MW power each could be avoided if the policy to set power projects at mine head is observed. After all even if power projects are set up same Orissa and Bihar labour have to be brought to work here, since all industries of Tamilnadu and Puducherry uniformly follow a policy to engage only Orissa and Bihar labour and never to disturb local labour from watching free television and eating Rs 1 per kg rice given by noble leader Dr.Kalaignar.

Empee Power and Infrastructure Ltd aim generation of 1200 MW. A company from Spain aims 2000 MW. Then comes the 4000 MW power project by National Thermal Power Corporation near Thirukuvalai, Chief Minister Dr.Kalaignar¡¯s birth place. Central University coming in his home district is welcome but not polluting industries. The rice bowl of Tamilnadu should have agro-based industries and should promote agriculture and fisheries, the traditional people pursuing these professions for centuries or millennium. Similarly 2000 MW power project near Cheyyur also will erase the ecology of Kaluveli tank; a place of haven for migratory birds, and the tourism potential of ECR road will have to be wiped out to dump fly ash everywhere, congesting roads with coal transport.

We urge the Tamilnadu Government to re-think its energy policy. The Memorandum of Understanding signed with Tri-Sakthi Energy P Ltd for 525 MW of power. India Power project, SPIC Energy Private Limited, Chennai Power Company etc for 1000 MW each and Cuddalore Thermal Power Project to generate 1320 MW too are coal based. Reliance plans 3000 MW power project. All these projects are coal based environmental hazards.

☼☼►Dravida Peravai lauds only 2 initiatives of Tamil Nadu Power Minister. The Memorandum of Understanding signed with an American firm for generating sea solar power is welcome. The Project that comes in Udangudi of Tuticurin District to generate 100 MW of Solar Thermal Power is welcome. As on January 31st of 2009 out of total national production of 9756 MW of wind energy Tamilnadu produces 42 percent and this is a good development. We whole heartedly welcome these solar, wind, and ocean thermal power projects. But we oppose the Coal based Thermal Power projects that are coming up in Nagapattinam Districts, for which this public enquiry is called for.

►National Thermal Power Corporation of India is pumping 500 million US dollars in a joint venture with Ceylon Electricity Board to set up a power project at Sampur in Srilanka. India that could not ensure safety sail for Indian fishermen in Bay of Bengal more particularly in Gulf of Mannar and Pak Straits is going to ferry coal to Srilanka from Orissa. From Anuradhapura in Srilanka to Thalaimannar of Tamilnadu both India and Srilanka had planned under sea link to transmit power at a cost of Rs 2200 crore. India that for 30 years had not linked its rivers to help Indian farmers, but now wants to link Srilanka and Tamilnadu by under sea link to bring power to boost the growth of all polluting industries in Tamil soil. If India had annexed Tamil areas of Srilanka and merged North and East Districts of Srilanka with Tamilnadu and created a Tamilnadu State within Indian Union on both sides of Pak Straits, then such link between Tamil states may be welcomed but not the current project.

► Dravida Peravai mooted an idea when the undersigned was Trustee in Tuticurin Port Trust, and took up with Planning Commission and through then Defence Minister Comrade George Fernandes apprised then Indian Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee on the need to create a National Seaway Authority like National Highways. Every state government has minor and intermediary ports under its control but they are idle monuments with no revenue generation with the exception of Gujarat¡¯s minor ports. Hence to interlink these 138 minor and intermediary ports for passenger and cargo traffic, creation of such authority is must, we suggested. Accepting that during his visit to Kanyakumari, then Prime Minister announced Sagar Mala scheme for this purpose, which is yet to take off. We now also urge Indian Government and Tamilnadu Government to go for reviving that idea, to use existing harbors for passenger and cargo traffic, thereby creating jobs for educated fishermen coming out of maritime university. It will ease traffic congestion in roads. Unfortunately the regular hidden incomes through frequent laying of roads will be the only loss to the officials and political bosses. Instead of using Sagar mala scheme to purposefully use existing harbours there seems to be a craze to allow harbours under private only to ferry coal to coal based power plants. This ridiculous policy causes the new creation of Ports in Nagapattinam District which we oppose.

¨‹Tamilnadu must give clearance to biomass power plants. Times of India dated 29 th October 2009 states that 9 companies have approached Tamilnadu Energy Development Agency for permissions to start biomass power plants. Tamilnadu Electricity Board must give clearance for these 9 companies to generate 487 MW of power. The speed with which clearances came for coal based power projects is lacking here, that too for small quantum of power, which can be termed as tokenism too TN Government lacks political will. The biomass energy produced currently is 111 MW writes Vivek Narayanan in Times of India. Hence according clearances for clean energy is must in days when we sing lullabies on climate change.

¨‹If India has to reduce its carbon emissions; it would mean a major reorientation of her energy strategy, especially if that warranted a shift from its current coal-based to an oil and gas based energy system. Murthy, Panda and Parikh (2000) examined the consequences of alternative CO2 emission reduction strategies on economic development and, in particular, the implications for the poor by empirically implementing an economy-wide model across India over a 35-year time horizon. A multi-sectoral, inter-temporal model is used for this purpose. The model has specific technological alternatives and endogenous income distribution with dynamic behavior; it covers the whole economy in an integrated top-down-bottom-up model. Such alternative thinking must dawn on Tamilnadu Government.

¨‹International Seabed Authority under the auspices of United Nations has earmarked 1,50,000 square kilometers of sea bed in Indian Ocean for mining of cobalt, nickel , copper etc. We are not aware whether any such area is earmarked in Bay of Bengal. If the pursuit to mine sea-bed begins apart from natural gas to minerals, the traditional living sources of fishermen will be totally robbed from them. Even after Exclusive Economic Zones have been earmarked under International Law of Seas by United Nations, the fishermen of India particularly Tamil fishermen could not tap the fish wealth in their countries exclusive zones. Foreign fishing vessels creep in, sneak in, and poach in our zones, and fishermen with catamarans cannot compete. Fish wealth is near their eyes yet their country allows sharks from other nations to rob that instead of arming Indian fishermen with finances and schemes to make a better livelihood. The policy to uproot people from their traditional professions is suicidal, cynical, unethical and anti-national. Yet hand in glove with corporate world that greases their palms for petty gains and better lives today, our political masters are ruining traditional fishermen and agriculturalists depriving them a decent livelihood, thus earning a historical curse on them for their historical blunder.

¨‹ In precious stone rich Jharkand and Orissa, mining of this wealth which remained in the bowels of earth over which indigenous tribal peoples lived for millions of years is bartered to corporate world. Dravida Peravai had incorporated in its party manifesto that if a dam is constructed or project is set up uprooting people, such uprooted people and all villagers over which these projects come up must be made share holders in the projects that come up. Share the profits with the displaced people, compensate permanently elevating the lives of the deprived than throwing paltry pittance to political class, companies must be told. This includes the harbour and power project that comes up in Nagapattinam District. If a power project comes in Chief Ministers home village, all its villagers must be made share holders in that projects, all the jobs must be given to every educated youth forbidding total hiring of outsiders, and if talent is needed it should be only from Tamilnadu. No contracts labour system, because Chief Minister¡¯s home village must emulate a national model for development. Let Tamilnadu plan projects that will not aggravate our climate change. Let Tamilnadu go for clean technologies to generate power like Sweden. If our Chief Minister cannot make Tamilnadu a Sweden in energy, a cleaner Singapore in environment, then no one else in India can envisage and transform people¡¯s lives.

With Regards

Yours fraternally

N.Nandhivarman

General Secretary Dravida Peravai