SC to hear Sethu Project transfer petition on July 17

New Delhi, July 12 (UNI) The Supreme Court will hear the three writ petitions transfered from Madras High Court challenging the clearance given by Union Environment Ministry to Rs 2,427 crore Sethu Samundaram Ship Channel project on July 17.

The three writ petitions were filed by Ramagopalan and Dr Subramanian Swami, former union minister and President of Janata party seeking declaration of Sethu Samudaram as archeological site before a bench comprising Justices B N Agrawal and P P Naolekar.

Indian peninsular coastline is 7,517 kms long studded with 12 major ports and 185 medium and minor ports. But it does not have a continuous navigable route around the Indian peninsula within its own territorial water which is due to the presence of a shallow ridge called 'Adam's Bridge' between Rameshwaram island on southeastern coast of India and Talaimannar of Sri Lanka. The ships destined to ports on east coast of India have to travel an additional distance of 254 to 424 nautical miles and about 18 to 32 hrs of shiptime.

Several petitions have already been filed alleging that the Union Government has ignored the damage which the project may cause to the environment. Some Hindu organisations have also challenged the project on the ground that the project will destroy the mythological 'Ramsethu', which is believed to have been built by Lord Rama, hurting the religious sentiments of millions of Hindus across the country and abroad.

The Sethu Samundaram Ship Channel project, conceived and planned over 150 yrs, was approved by the Government of India and was inaugurated by the Prime Minister of India Manmohan Singh on July two, 2005.

UNI