Business Standard

Centre's stand in SC clouds project

SETHUSAMUDRAM SHIP CANAL PROJECT ROW

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BS Reporter New Delhi
The Centre's latest stand on the Sethusamudram ship canal project has cast a fatal shadow over the Rs 2,300-crore scheme.
 
The government today told the Supreme Court it would set up a mechanism to hear all parties before proceeding further. It said it would explore alternative plans to avoid the controversy over the present route and invited all concerned to come forward and submit their views.
 
Meanwhile, the court's earlier order putting on hold any construction in the Ram Sethu area would continue, though the government could carry on dredging in other areas.
 
At the request of the government, a Bench headed by Chief Justice KG Balakrishnan granted three months for the review of the project and posted the case for hearing in the first week of January.
 
The court also allowed the withdrawal of the first two affidavits of the government which doubted the existence of Ram and other characters of the Ramayana. According to Hindu mythology, the Ram Sethu was built by Ram.
 
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 are natural, it says.
 
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 by the ASI affidavit.

 
 

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First Published: Sep 15 2007 | 12:00 AM IST

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