Suresh Prabhu for environmental review of Sethusamudram project

New Delhi, Sept 15 (UNI) Shiv Sena MP and former Minister of Environment Suresh Prabhu wants a review of the Sethusamudram project.

However, his reservations to the project do not arise out of any religious considerations.

''I do not want to go into the faith controversy associated with the project, I just have great doubt that a proper environmental impact study of the destruction of the Adam's bridge or Ram setu has ever been carried out,'' the former Minister said talking to UNI on the sidelines of a seminar on climate change.

The seminar was organised as part of the CMS Vatavaran Environment Film Festival.

The MP said that if no indepth and adequate study had so far been carried out by the Ministry of Environment, it should be done at the earliest.

He said there were apprehensions of environmentalist and that the the proposed canal from the Gulf of Mannar (lying between the southern tip of India and the west coast of Sri Lanka) to the Bay of Bengal may not be economically very rewarding but rather cause harm to the natural ecosystem.

The Ram Sethu or the Adam's bridge is a natural string of coral reefs which is the underwater structure providing a natural defence to disasters like the 2004 tsunami.

There were also doubts over the economic feasibility of the project, he added.

''However, personally I would not either oppose or support the move unless I am sure that an in depth, impartial and a comprehensive expert study has been carried out on the need and desirability of the project,'' he said.

Hindu organisations are opposing the construction of the Bill as they believe that it was constructed by Lord Ram's army to cross over to Sri Lanka.

UNI