India: Centre files affidavit seeking nod for Sethusamudram Project

(July 22, New Delhi, Sri Lanka Guardian) Under the so-called DMK pressure, the Centre filed an affidavit Tuesday in the Supreme Court seeking permission to go ahead with the Sethusamudram Project. The Centre said it had no problem in proceeding with the contentious Sethusamudram Project.

It is being said that government decided to continue the project under DMK, an ally of government at the Centre, pressure which has been pushing for the project to go ahead.

Government's nod to project is also viewing as Congress' reward to DMK for its continuing support even after Left's withdrawal of support.

Whereas the government is keen to eradicating legal hurdles on the way of implementation of the project, the BJP has threatened to launch a nation-wide agitation in case the Ram Sethu is destroyed.

The Centre's move to seek removal of stay and avert any study by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) on whether Ram Sethu was a monument of faith and national heritage or a natural formation has once again given fuel to BJP to fire against pro-project.

The ASI informed the apex court last year in September that Ram Sethu had no scientific evidence of historical or archaeological remains, which could give credence to the fact that the bridge was built by Lord Rama and his monkey army.

In fact, the ASI in its affidavit submitted to the Supreme Court said that even the so-called Adams bridge was not considered yet as a material to be archaeological studied by it.

The affidavit was followed by political tumultuous and wide spread agitation by Hindu organisations across the country.

In May this year, the Supreme Court had given two significant instructions to Centre, asking to know whether ASI should examine that Ram Sethu be declared as national heritage. And, the second it asked directly to Centre whether the government should seek alternate ways or new alignment to Sethusamudram Project.

Two months later issuing notice to the Centre, the government filed affidavit today seeking order to allow it to proceed on the project and also replied that ASI has no need to conduct ASI survey before resuming work.

The Sethusamudram Ship Channel is a project to be concluded between India and Sri Lanka that would allow big ships from the West Coast of India to travel to the East Coast through the Palk Bay, instead of going around Sri Lanka. It's been doing so because of water is very shallow between India and Sri Lanka.

The completion of the project would mean saving of upto 424 nautical miles i.e. 780 km extra travelling and upto 30 hours in sailing time.

After the green signal to the project by the Supreme Court, two wide channels of about 89 km will be built. These two channels will be in the form of a wide canal to allow the big ships to pass through.

One channel will be built on the way to so-called 'Ram Sethu' or 'Adams Bridge' and the other will be built on the way to south-east Pamban Island by deepening Palk Strait.

The project was kicked off in July 2004.
- Sri Lanka Guardian