Panama Canal way to Sethu

By SNV Sudhir
Visakhapatnam, Sep 21: An expert has suggested a ‘Panama Canal' solution to the Rama Sethu controversy that will keep all contending parties happy.
Mr B.V. Audinarayana, a retired assistant garrison engineer of the Military Engineering Services, said that instead of cutting open Rama Sethu, the existing gap in the Pumban canal could be widened to allow ships to pass through.
The gap, created by Krishna Naik in 15th century and expanded by the British in the 18th century, is 30 km before the Rama Sethu.
This is similar to the design adopted in the famous Panama Canal and would be more economical and less controversial, he said.
Mr Audinarayana, who has done extensive research on the Rama Sethu, also known as Adam's Bridge, says that the project can be carried out, but with some modifications.
"The gap in the Pumban Canal can be further widened without disturbing the other structure," he said.
In the 15th century, Krishna Naick built a canal which was only a few feet wide and only four feet deep. Boats could pass through the canal during high tide and carts could cross when the water level was low.
When it opened to the sea the canal expanded to a width of about 2 km. This allowed the sand and silt to move from the east coast and Palk Bay into the deep sea.
The British widened the canal to allow ships to move easily to Ceylon instead of taking a circuitous route.
"The current approach being debated is based on the Suez Canal design," said Mr Audinarayana. "But it will be better if the Panama Canal model is adopted with dock locks at the Pumban Bridge."
The scientist, who had helped build the huge dry dock in the naval dockyard at Vizag in the 1970s, said that different kinds of dock locks can be provided for ships of varying sizes.
With this plan, the route would become shorter and the huge expenditure on dredging will come down.
"Also, dock locks will help check sand erosion due to further deepening of Pumban canal which will wreak major disasters," he said. "Big cities such as Vizag and Chennai will go under the sea in the long run if it is unchecked."
An expert has suggested a ‘Panama Canal' solution to the Rama Sethu controver- sy that will keep all con- tending parties happy. Mr B.V. Audinarayana, a retired assistant garrison engineer of the Military Engineering Services, said that instead of cutting open Rama Sethu, the existing gap in the Pumban canal could be widened to allow ships to pass through. The gap, created by Krishna Naik in 15th centu- ry and expanded by the British in the 18th century, is 30 km before the Rama Sethu. This is similar to the design adopted in the famous Panama Canal and would be more economical and less controversial, he said. Mr Audinarayana, who has done extensive research on the Rama Sethu, also known as Adam's Bridge, says that the project can be carried out, but with some modifications. "The gap in the Pumban Canal can be further widened without disturbing the other structure," he said. In the 15th century, Krish- na Naick built a canal which was only a few feet wide and only four feet deep. Boats could pass through the canal during high tide and carts could cross when the water level was low. When it opened to the sea the canal expanded to a width of about 2 km. This allowed the sand and silt to move from the east coast and Palk Bay into the deep sea. The British widened the canal to allow ships to move easily to Ceylon instead of taking a cir- cuitous route. "The current approach being debated is based on the Suez Canal design," said Mr Audinarayana. "But it will be better if the Panama Canal model is adopted with dock locks at the Pumban Bridge." The scientist, who had helped build the huge dry dock in the naval dockyard at Vizag in the 1970s, said that different kinds of dock locks can be provided for ships of varying sizes. With this plan, the route would become shorter and the huge expenditure on dredging will come down. "Also, dock locks will help check sand erosion due to further deepening of Pumban canal which will wreak major disasters," he said. "Big cities such as Vizag and Chennai will go under the sea in the long run if it is unchecked."