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By:

Quaid Najmi

4 January 2025 at 3:26:24 pm

‘End defamation of Lohagad Fort’

Prominent mountaineering institute urges CM to take steps over digital defamation Mumbai: A prominent mountaineering institute has taken strong objection to the vilification of the historic Lohagad Fort in Pune – now a UNESCO World Heritage (2025) along with 12 Maratha forts – which shot into limelight last month for an alleged murder. Pune-based Akhil Maharashtra Giryarohan Mahasangh (AMGM) has shot off a memorandum to the Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis seeking an end to the ‘digital...

‘End defamation of Lohagad Fort’

Prominent mountaineering institute urges CM to take steps over digital defamation Mumbai: A prominent mountaineering institute has taken strong objection to the vilification of the historic Lohagad Fort in Pune – now a UNESCO World Heritage (2025) along with 12 Maratha forts – which shot into limelight last month for an alleged murder. Pune-based Akhil Maharashtra Giryarohan Mahasangh (AMGM) has shot off a memorandum to the Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis seeking an end to the ‘digital defamation’ of Lohagad Fort which stands as a symbol of valour of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. It has referred to the shocking alleged murder incident of June 18 of a Pune realtor Ketan Agarwal which was ostensibly masterminded by his fiancée Siya Goyal and her purported boyfriend Chetan Chaudhary, both arrested and currently under judicial custody. The gruesome incident has taken social media by a storm with a disturbing trend in which this 2000-year-old World Heritage Monument and the site of the alleged killing is now blatantly referred to as ‘Siya Point’. Disturbing Trend The AMGM claimed that besides the social media, it is reportedly ‘rechristened’ on certain digital mapping platforms, urging thrill-seekers to visit the site -- “which is a disturbing trend”. In the past few weeks, a commanding cliff in the Lohagad Fort has been repeatedly touted as ‘Siya Point’, sparking curiosity among the masses. However, the AMGM lamented that turning the site of a tragedy into a public attraction is deeply unfortunate and sets a dangerous precedent for other heritage monuments all over India by creating new macabre tourist landmarks. “Linking the identity of the historic fort to an isolated crime, assigning new names to locations within the fort, circulating memes, reels, jokes and sensational digital content, amounts to disrespecting both history and public sentiments. It must be immediately stopped,” an agitated AMGM President Umesh Zirpe told ‘The Perfect Voice’. Trekkers’ Pilgrimage In the presentation to the CM, the AMGM said that Lohagad Fort represents the history of Swarajya and is like a pilgrimage for trekkers, historians and lakhs of devotees of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. Zirpe, along with AMGM Executive Yadav and Secretary Dr. Rahul Warange raised another concern that has repeatedly drawn flak from various quarters – the rampant commercial exploitation of forts for pre-wedding shoots, fashion photography, music videos, reels by social media influencers or other promotional advertising, disregarding their historical significance, cultural sanctity or environmental sensitivity. They pointed out globally, there are prohibitions or stringent regulations on commercial filming and photography at such World Heritage Sites, and the same must be made applicable to monuments in India and Maharashtra. “While individual visitors/tourists should be allowed to click personal photos/videos, all other commercial activities must be curbed or regulated through a robust policy, mandatory prior permissions, adhering to a strict code of conduct and punitive measures against violators,” suggested the AMGM.

Indian Shipbuilding A Must Win Marathon

Shipbuilding

With a coastline of 7500 KM, it is hard to imagine, that for the first 20 years (1947-1967) India had no ‘shipping ministry’. In 1967 a Shipping ministry “coupled” with ROAD transport was established. Since then, this ministry has been on a name changing ride, not once, not twice but six times. In 2009 the “ROAD Transport and Highways” was de-coupled and ‘Shipping’ ministry was formed. Turning point came in 2015 with a clear maritime vision for 2030 and 2047. Ministry was re-christened, aptly to Ministry of “Ports, Shipping and Waterways” in 2020.


Why is Shipbuilding important for a country?

a. A Shipyard becomes an opportunity hub and like a queen bee requires the support of an industrial colony to manufacture machinery and equipment.

b. National Shipyards support fleet renewal needs of the Navy.

c. Contributes to national GDP, increases inflow of FOREX.


Korea shipbuilding is 8% of GDP. Japan’s automobile industry is 2.9% of GDP. India’s shipbuilding a meagre 0.000578% of GDP. In context, India’s pharmaceutical industry, ranked third largest in the world is 1.72% of India’s GDP.


International Shipbuilding Market

The market is estimated to reach around USD 200 billion by 2029, growing at a CAGR of 4.84%. While India is at bottom with 0.07% of world share, behind Philippines 1.5% and Vietnam 1%, however on the positive side, India has done well in taking care of its defence needs, with 37 of 39 Naval ships being built in India yards. Rear Admiral S Shrikhande researching on maritime as a Fellow at Wollongong University, Australia, says “Shipbuilding in India needs both, serious incentivisation and dogged determination and not harping on being a big ship breaking country. That Garden Reach shipyard has a $54 million order for merchant ships from a German owner, is a good sign.”


Were Shipyards of 20th century in Flight mode?

Prominent shipyards in India were built in the colonial period. Mazagon Dock 1774, Garden reach 1884, Hindustan shipyard 1941 to cater to British navy and merchant fleet needs. Cochin shipyard 1972, Adani Katupalli 2013, Reliance Naval and Engineering, Rajula Gujarat 1997 and others have limited capacity, hence a lot more work to do. Capt. Subhangshu Dutt (Singapore) a mariner and now a shipowner, says “GOI should hold hands in any collaboration till the marriage with the foreign entity is reasonably stable. He also suggests that “new shipbuilding sites should be given to existing successful shipyards since they have decades of experience and talent. Consortium of 3 or more parties may also be good idea”.


Shipbuilding GOLD

As per SPLASH report the demand for LCO2 carriers could reach 2,500 ships by 2050. As per other estimates, 40% of global fleet of ships could have wind propulsion by 2050. A surge in such vessels is due to an unparallel waves of decarbonization in the shipping industry. Demand for ships with ‘carbon neutral’ badges, such as Dual fuel, Wind assisted, Nuclear fuel ships, Hydrogen powered ships, Liquified CO2 (LCO2) carrier, is outstripping supply. A must in the ‘bucket list’ of every Shipyard. Pinning down a standard ROI in shipbuilding is not easy, but experts suggest it could range from 4% to 15% for the high demand ‘carbon neutral’ ships. While an LNG new build vessel could cost US$ 250 million upwards.


International collaboration

On China’s shipbuilding success story, Manoj Pandalanghat (Singapore) a mariner and ship owner believes that “China has around 50 active Shipyards. Each have a few large dry docks. In each dock two or more large vessels are built simultaneously. Thus, a single yard is able to roll out 2/3 vessels/month, 36 vessels/year and 50 shipyards roll out 1800 vessels/year”.


China could be a jaldi-5, but India needs a sturdy Mount Fiji. Besides technology, Japanese bring the most important hand baggage of soft-skills and culture, essential for success from keel laying to delivery. Maruti’s is a standing example.


Food for thought for New Delhi

a. Expertise: Hire Naval Architects and shipbuilding experts with current international experience.

b. Government assistance: Land, Financial support, subsidies and timebound clearances.

c. Monitoring: PMO should monitor the first 5 to 10 years till Shipbuilding takes-off on this long-haul flight to destination 2047.


India’s Shipbuilding is expected to grow to $237 billion by year 2047. On a back of the envelope calculations this works out to about 4% of India’s 2047 projected GDP of $ 5 trillion. While cars are driven on roads, however the Ministry of roads and transport has little to do with “Automobile manufacturing”. On a similar note, ‘Shipbuilding’ as an industry has little to do with Ports, Shipping and Waterways, thus it may be worthwhile to consider a separate ‘Ship-building’ wing in the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways headed by a dynamic cabinet rank minister. Since 2047 targets are stiff and an uphill task, so in all probabilities, the officials in Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways are likely to push beneath the carpet, delays and failures of Shipbuilding with sweet success stories of “Ports, Shipping and Waterways” and if this does happen then India will not only miss the Shipbuilding bus of 21st century but a lot more from a national security and strategic perspective.


(The author is a Shipping and Marine consultant. Member Singapore Shipping Association and empaneled with IMO as a specialist consultant. Views personal.)

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