Sethusamudram Ship Channel Project(சேதுக்கால்வாய் திட்டம்)

Sethusamudram Ship Channel Project proposes linking the Palk Bay and the Gulf of Mannar between India and Sri Lanka  by creating a shipping channel through the shallow sea sometimes called Setu Samudram and through the chain of islands variously known as Ramar Palam,Ram Sethu and Adam's Bridge.
The project involves digging a 44.9 Nautical Mile(83 km) long deepwater channel linking the shallow water of the Palk Strait with the Gulf of Mannar. UPA Govt headed by Dr Man Mohan Singh announced the inauguration of the project on July 2, 2005.
Sethusamudram project is aimed at constructing a shorter navigational route around India's southern tip by breaching the Ram Sethu.As per the Sethusamudram project, the shipping channel is proposed to be 30 metres wide, 12 metres deep and 167 kms long.

J Jayalalithaa Wants Ram Setu Declared National Monument 

TN CM Jayalalithaa has urged the Centre to declare the Ram Setu, through which the proposed alignment of the Sethusamudram channel is planned, a national monument, without further delay - March 28,2012

In a communication to Prime Minister Manmohn Singh, she stated that based on strong opposition to the earlier alignment 6 cutting across the structure, popularly known as Ram Setu owing to its “immeasurable historical, archaeological and heritage value,” a number of writ petitions had been filed in the Madras High Court and the Supreme Court.

She had also filed a writ petition in the Supreme Court in 2007 praying for a direction to the Tuticorin Port Trust and the Union of India, Ministry of Culture, to declare Adam's Bridge\Ram Setu as a national monument and take over, preserve and maintain it.

Central Govt. won't take stand on Ram Setu, asks SC to decide

The Central Government has refused to take any stand on the issue of declaring the mythological Ram Setu a national monument and, instead, has asked the Supreme Court to take a call on April 20,2012.

Appearing before a Bench of Justices H.L. Dattu and Anil R Dave, Additional Solicitor-General Haren Raval said that after consultations, the government decided that it would not take any stand.

He said the Government would stand by its 2008 affidavit in which it had said it respected all religions but it was of view that it should not be called upon to respond to the issues of faith, except in recognising their existence.

The Bench was hearing a petition by Janata Party president Subramanian Swamy, seeking a directive to declare Ram Setu a national monument. On March 29, the court granted two weeks to the Centre to take a stand. “If you say you don't want to file [a] counter-affidavit, we can go ahead with the arguments in the case,” it had said.

The case came under judicial scrutiny owing to a batch of petitions filed in the Supreme Court against the Sethusamudram project, whose execution would allegedly damage the mythological bridge.

The Centre in its earlier affidavit, cleared by the Cabinet Committee of Political Affairs (CCPA) chaired by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, had said the government respects all religions but was of view that it “should not be called upon to respond to the issues of faith, except in recognising their existence.”

The amended affidavit was filed after the Centre had withdrawn its two affidavits in which it had questioned the existence of Lord Ram and Ram Setu.

 

 

 

Alternative Route for Sethu Project Unfeasible

The government today July 03,2012 told the Supreme Court that a high—level committee in its report has suggested that alternative alignment other than mythological Ram Sethu for Sethusamudram project was not economically and ecologically feasible.

However, Solicitor General Rohinton Nariman submitted before a bench comprising justices H L Dattu and C K Prasad that the Union Cabinet was yet to consider and take a decision on the report prepared by the committee headed by eminent environmentalist R K Pachauri.

The bench gave the government eight weeks time to apprise it about the future development of the project.
SC gives time to Central Govt to take stand on Sethusamudram project

The Supreme Court on Monday Oct 15,2012 granted another 6 weeks to government to apprise it of its stand on the controversial Sethusamudram project about which a high-level committee has said that an alternative alignment, other than the one through mythological Ram Sethu, is not economically and ecologically feasible.

A bench of justices H L Dattu and C K Prasad gave more time to the government to make its stand on the project and posted the case for further hearing to December 3,2012.
The case relating to Ram Sethu had come under judicial scrutiny due to a batch of petitions filed in the apex court against the ambitious Sethusamudram project, whose execution allegedly could damage the mythological bridge.

The Prime Minister Man Mohan Singh had appointed the committee after the apex court had asked the government to explore an alternative alignment for the shipping channel to prevent damage to the Sethu.
The committee, in its report, had raised questions on the alternative alignment after taking into account various aspects including its economic and ecological assessment.

Appointed by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, the panel, headed by eminent environmentalist R K Pachauri, had analysed various aspects and said the alternative route aimed at protecting Ram Sethu, also called Adams Bridge, was not an acceptable option and not in public interest.