DMK leader M Karunanidhi on Monday vowed to accomplish the Sethusamudram Shipping Canal project during his lifetime.
Leading his party’s protest here, he told a gathering here that the project would bring economic benefits to the State, besides paving the way for the prosperity of minor ports in coastal districts.
“Nagapattinam and Cuddalore shipping ports will gain major importance and a new port will come up at Vedaranyam. Altogether the economic status of the State will rise. This is one of the projects that I should accomplish in my lifetime”.
It was a dream project of DMK founder and former Chief Minister CN Annadurai, he said, “Anna dreamt of the project to bring development to the State.”
The demonstration was jointly organised by the Thanjavur, Tiruvarur and Nagapattinam cadre of DMK party as a part of State-wide protests demanding the implementation of the project.
Denying that the project would harm fishing activities, the DMK chief said, “it will improve the livelihood of fishing community and empower them financially as trade would flourish at the ports. Besides, it also boosts the trading activities of the State.”
Recalling the trade Tamils had with Greeks and Romans during the Sangam age, the same conditions of prosperity would be revived by the implementation of the Sethusamudram Shipping Canal project. He sought the support of all political parties and the people to the speedy implementation of the Sethusamudram project.
Meanwhile, Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi president Thol Thirumavalavan, who participated in the protest, charged those opposed to the project with indulging in false propaganda and said only 26 kilometers are left to be dredged in the project and it would take additional funds of `1500 crores to complete the project.
Party MPs S S Palanimanickam, AKS Vijayan and former DMK Minister Ponmudi participated in the protest at Nagapattinam.