Sethusamudram project in a lurch

The government's latest stand on the Sethusamudram ship canal project cast a fatal shadow over the entire Rs 2,300 crore scheme when it told the Supreme Court today that it would set up a mechanism to hear all parties before it proceeds further.

The government said that it would explore alternative plans to avoid the controversy over the present route. It invited all concerned persons to come forward and submit their views on the scheme.

Meanwhile, the court's earlier order putting on hold any construction in the Rama Sethu area will continue, though the government could carry on dredging activity in other areas.

At the request of the government, the court, headed by Chief Justice K G Balakrishnan, granted three months for the review of the project and posted the case in the first week of January.

The court also allowed the withdrawal of the first two affidavits of the government which doubted the historicity of Ram and others in the Ramayana. The Ram Sethu is believed by the Hindus to be the bridge built by Lord Ram's army to cross over to Sri Lanka to rescue his wife Sita, kidnapped by demon king Ravan. According to the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), there is no scientific evidence to prove that there was a bridge built by humans; the sand formations were natural.

Additional Solicitor General, Gopal Subramaniam, submitted that there was no intention to hurt the sentiments of any religious community, especially the Hindus, in this context. The government's damage control exercise comes in the wake of the furore sparked off by the ASI affidavit on Thursday.