September 08, 2008

Sethu project faces 20% to 30% cost surge

It is reported that Sethusamudram canal project off the Tamil Nadu coast will face a cost escalation of over 20% to 30% and a delay of over a year if the government decides to re align the canal in response to opposition from various political parties.

Officials of shipping ministry said that a new alignment for the canal would require fresh geological studies like soil testing, wave and sedimentation testing and an environmental impact assessment. They added that the current deadline of November 30th 2008 cannot be met since work on the project has been stopped following a Supreme Court order on September 14th 2007. So far, only 35% of the dredging work has been completed.

The current alignment of the canal runs through the controversial Adam’s Bridge, which was selected by the National Environmental Engineering and Research Institute, because of its distance from the land that would minimize the environmental impact.

Meanwhile, Bharatiya Janata Party, which considers Adam’s Bridge of religious significance, has suggested an alignment that runs through the ecologically sensitive marine bio park in the Palk Bay. Ministry officials said that this was not a feasible arrangement, as it is closer to the land mass and would affect local fishermen. The Palk Bay was one of five alignments that the National Environmental Engineering and Research Institute rejected, while conducting the environmental study for the project.