The Hindu Business Line : Sethu project will be completed on time: Baalu

Chennai, Sept 22 The Rs 2,500-crore Sethusamudram Ship Canal Project will be completed as per schedule by December 2008, according to the Union Minister for Shipping, Road Transport and Highways, Mr T.R. Baalu.

So far, around Rs 600 crore has been spent on the project. Currently, four dredgers are working in the Palk Straits, he told newspersons in response to a query regarding the Supreme Court’s interim order on the project.

In the interim order, the Supreme Court has restrained the Centre and the Sethusamudram Corporation Ltd from causing damage in any manner to Rama Sethu (Adam’s Bridge) while implementing the project. The Court, however, allowed dredging so long as it does not damage the Rama Sethu.

Mr Baalu said, “Whatever the Supreme Court says we will obey. We have the right to argue the case on scientific temperament. We will move the Supreme Court to carry out the project in the present route.”

Quoting the American space agency NASA, the Minister said there is a continuous stretch of sandy shore, and there are over 40 such sandy shores across the world, including the Palk Straits.

The ship canal project envisages dredging a ship channel across the Palk Straits between India and Sri Lanka. It will allow ships sailing between the east and west coast of India to have a straight passage through India’s territorial waters instead of having to circumvent Sri Lanka. This will lead to a saving of up to 424 nautical miles (780 km) and 30 hours sailing time.

Two channels will be created — one north of Adam’s Bridge (the chain of islets and shallows linking India with Sri Lanka) and southeast of Pamban Island, and another through the shallows of Palk Bay, deepening the Palk Straits. The total length of these two channels would be 89 km.