Favourable verdict expected on Sethu project

Madurai, Apr 14 (UNI) Senior DMK Minister and Tamil Nadu Electricity Minister Arcot N Veerasamy today expressed the hope of obtaining a 'favourable verdict' from the apex court on the Sethu Samudram Shipping Channel Project (SSCP).

Laying the foundation stone of a 110/11 KV electrical sub-station at Sholavandhan in the district, he said the SSCP was likely to be completed by next year and the first ship would probably pass through the channel in June three, 2009 the birth anniversary of Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and DMK Patriarch M Karunanidhi.

He said the previous BJP government at the Centre had put on hold the project and the works had begun only during the present Congress-led UPA regime.

Though initially it was planned to complete the project by December, 2008 there was hindrance due to an affidavit filed by Janata Party President Subramanian Swamy and others stating the project would damage Adam's bridge.

''Though the DMK is not against Lord Rama, one should prove the existence of the so-called Adam's bridge and who had built it,'' he said.

He said the Sethu project would not only generate employment opportunities for youths in Madurai, Ramanathapuram, Tirunelveli, Tuticorin and Virudhunagar districts, but would also help foreign countries, besides India to easily operate ships instead of circum navigating Sri Lanka.

Mr Veerasamy said the proposed Power Trading Corporation would start functioning during the current year and the Tamil Nadu Electricity Board (TNEB) was striving to make the State a power surplus one.

He said it was planned to set up 90 electrical sub-stations across the State of which twelve would be located in Madurai district alone.

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