Natural Resources Development Project

The coral reefs of Rameshwaram are an important part of the sacred geography. They also have a great evolutionary history. They provide a prominent support for the Gulf of Mannar biodiversity. However today they are facing many threats mainly due to the pollution and global warming. We provide a glimpse into some interesting aspects of the Rameshwaram coral reefs. The coral reefs have been there for millions of years. Home to many organisms the marine biodiversity is heavily dependent on the coral reefs and they had also protected the population from the 2004 Tsunami.

Bio-diversity is one of the important aspects that has to be studied, documented and conserved at Rameshwaram.Rameshwaram island is one of the chain of islands that are present in the Gulf of Mannar bio-diversity hot-spot region.Read about it and its importance in the newsletter. Shells, Coral Reefs and Sea algae - the bio-diversity of this island needs to be showcased and this is a small beginning. Also find out about the renovation work of Ramar Teertham. We have excellent press coverage of the event. We have shown the condition of the teerthamprior to the renovation.

As part of the 'Green Rameshwaram' project we have been able to bring smiles and light into the hamlets of Danushkodi with solar power installations. Sponsored by BrahMos Aerospace the project has not only lighted up the individual houses of the hamlet but also the community commons including the panchayat school and street lights in the area. The renewable energy installations is a short in the arm of the Green Rameshwaram project. Along with this we have also conducted a meeting of the special interest groups with the District Collector Sri.Nanthakumar IAS.

This month we have exciting report on Dharmar Teertham. After identifying the Teertham area which was a plain sand dune and after the initial ceremonies, we started digging. And we discovered a huge beautiful traditional water body emerging as the sand dune got cleared. The centuries old structure made with lime mixture has a wonderful finishing touch and is mostly intact even after centuries of being buried under the sand dune. In the Green Rameshwaram project we have a host of works done by our team of workers at Rameshwaram.

The traditional water bodies of Rameshwaram are finding a new life. Already Vivekananda Kendra-nardep has renovated the Sahadeva and Nakula teerthams. We have renovated vitally the Arjuna and Bhima teertham.

The traditional water bodies renovation at Rameshwaram is now entering into the Green Rameshwaram phase. Eminent epigraphist S.Ramachandran and Sri.Rajendran a veteran expert on irrigation structures based inscriptions, identified a 'Sati stone' by the side of Sugreevar Teertham.

This month saw a very important development in 'Green Rameshwaram' project.

A very happy Ugadi.  This month newsletter concludes the previous month serial on the blue print for a 'Green Rameshwaram.' Mata Sri Amritanandamayi in her message sent on the occassion of the starting function of 'Green Rameshwaram' said "By taking up this work of transforming the ancient island town of Rameshwaram into 'Green Rameshwaram', Vivekananda Kendra is doing a great service to Mother Nature, Indian people and

Vivekananda Kendra-nardep has worked out a detailed holistic blue print for making Rameshwaram a green pilgrimage. This involves discovering the historical, cultural and ecological linkages and reviving them. Apart from linkages we also have to revive the relations at the institutional, social and individual levels. A road map to this has been charted out. Beginning this newsletter we are sharing this with you. You can read it in detail and understand the holistic transformation VK-nardep aims to achieve in Rameshwaram by making it a green pilgrimage model island.

The Vision document in the form of a video documentary in Tamil was released at the function and was screened to the audience. It unveiled a ten-dimensional blueprint for actualizing the green Rameshwaram project.