SSCP: Swamy cites CG chief's opposition

Chennai, Jan 31 (UNI) Janata Party President Dr Subramanian Swamy today quoted Director General of Coast Guard Admiral Homi Contractor as having said that the Sethusamudram Shipping Channel Project (SSCP) was a security threat to the nation.

In a statement here, he said Admiral Contractor's warning had confirmed his allegations to this effect, made earlier in Madras High Court and subsequently in the Supreme Court.

Admiral Contractor's reported remarks came close on the heels of similar views expressed by Naval chief Admiral Suresh Mehta.

''I would demand that the Prime Minister intervene and order for scrapping of the project forthwith,'' Dr Swamy said, adding that Rs 800 crore that have been spent so far, had been done at the behest of Union Shipping Minister T R Baalu without security clearance from the armed forces and intelligence agencies.

Mr Baalu went ahead with the project even without obtaining prior clearance from the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board and hence the amount should be recovered by prosecuting him, Dr Swamy said.

Meanwhile, Mr Baalu, in a brief chat with newspersons at the Trade Centre here, said those who opposed the SSCP were enemies of the country and asserted that the project would be implemented at any cost.

He added that those trying to stall the project should realise that they were acting against the interests of Tamil Nadu and the country.

UNI WS GD PY HT1935