India's vastly unexplored 7,500 km coastline can generate millions of jobs

India's vastly unexplored 7,500 km coastline can generate millions of jobs

For security, the Navy depends on excellent eaves dropping equipment, and guards who stand near the prow and watch the waters. Activity keeps them alert and awake. Had there been no boats around, they could not really be faulted for dozing off.

AP

And Britain with its limited coastline earns over GNP 450 billion annually. India could have earned a lot more and even created employment for millions.

India forgot that a 7,500 km coastline is like a 7,500 km 40 lane highway that the country would not have to finance, build or even maintain. It was god’s gift to promote coastal tourism and coastal transport.

Ditto with India’s rivers. Like elsewhere in the world, the biggest cities India had were those on the shores of rivers or seas. But then came the railway network. The British wanted this to become viable and hence promoted rail travel. Riverine cities went into decline and so did India’s rivers. With a majority of population forsakes river travel, it is bound to go into disuse. And abetted by the collusive role that politicians and executives have played all along, it was not surprising that even rivers became polluted. They became repugnant, and traversed only by those who could not afford the rail network.