The Hindu Business Line : Sethu Samudram project

MADURAI: The Tuticorin Port Trust (TPT) is set to seek clearance from the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board to start the Sethu Samudram Ship Canal Project.

According to Mr N.K. Raghupathy, TPT, Chairman, the clearance is a statutory requirement and the application for the purpose will be sent before June 15. The final report to the Ministry of Environment and Forest would be sent before July.

Speaking to reporters at Tuticorin, he said, the National Environmental Engineering Research Institute, engaged for a techno-economic study, has completed an environmental management programme on averting or minimising the damages to marine wealth during the implementation of the project. Twenty-one islands forming the National Marine Park and facilitating fish breeding the canal region would not be affected as the sea route is set 6-21 km away. Further, deepening is needed only in shallow regions. The project could be started by 2005. A 300-metre wide canal would be dug after dredging of 32 million cubic metre sand, he added.