|
Fresh doubts on Sethusamudram Canal
PM News Bureau
Though the environment impact assessment study by the National Environmental Engineering Research Institute has cleared the Sethusamudram Shipping Canal Project, fresh doubts have been raised in various quarters.
The Prime Minister's Office (PMO) has asked for more clarifications before clearing the project. The recent tsunami calamity has alarmed officials about the desirability of the project in its current form. PMO feels the study has not considered the problems of sedimentation, cyclonic disturbances and dumping of dredged sediments. Sethusamudram involves widening and deepening Pamban channel to facilitate the movement of coastal ships of 3,000 tonnes size. The Tuticorin Port Trust is the nodal agency for the project. An SPV Sethusamudram Corporation Ltd has been set up to implement the project, estimated to cost Rs 1,448 crore. L&T Ramboll Consulting Engineers will prepare a detailed project report.
[14 March 2005]
|
