The Hindu Business Line : Sethu project will be implemented: Baalu

CHENNAI: Unperturbed by the 'legal hurdles' surrounding the DMK's dream scheme, the Sethusamudram Shipping Canal Project (SSCP), the Union Shipping Minister Mr T R Baalu has expressed confidence that the Rs 2400 crore project would certainly be implement ed.

"The day when Congress president Sonia Gandhi would flag off the first ship on the channel is not far away," he said at the launch of a book on Sethusamudram.

Mr Baalu termed the "success" of the opponents of the project, which has moved the court against implementation of the SSCP as it could damage the 'Ram Sethu', as "temporary".

"The enemies of Tamils may rejoice in their moment of temporary success now but the government will come out winning (in the legal battle)," Mr Baalu said at the release of "Sethusamudram, Ean? Edarkaga" (Sethusamduram, Why? What for?) authored by state Congress veteran A Gopanna.

He was making an apparent reference to a recent Supreme Court directive to the Centre asking it to look into the possibility of carrying out SSCP through other alignments.

The Janata Party president Mr Subramanian Swamy and some Hindu organisations have moved the Supreme Court against the demolition of the 'Ramsethu' believed to be built by Lord Ram to crossover to Sri Lanka.

"All the allies (of the DMK) and the people of Tamil Nadu besides Tamils around the world are behind me supporting the cause. We will have the last laugh in this matter," Mr Baalu said.

"When the project was launched in 2005 at Madurai by Sonia Gandhi and Prime Minister Mr Manmohan Singh, she asked me to complete the project on time, that is before the next Parliament elections (next year)," he said. - PTI

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