04-19-2007, 06:46 AM
More on the opposition.
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->Mass fast against Sethusamudram canal project
Thursday, 14 December 2006 | http://www.nerve.in/news:25350027319 | channel: India
"Meanwhile, the Tamil Nadu government has announced that a study has been undertaken on the consequences of the project for the coral reefs and marine life in the dredging area. The study is being conducted by four researchers of the Annamalai University from on board a research vessel. "
Chennai, Dec 14 - A mass hunger strike will be held Friday against the Sethusamudram Shipping Canal project by organisations claiming the venture had been cleared without the requisite environmental go ahead.
<b>The Movement Against Sethusamudram Shipping Canal (MASSC), a coalition of organisations opposing the project</b>, in a statement said that the project had been launched in violation of earlier assurances.
The Rs.12 billion Sethusamudram Ship Canal Project on the coast of Tamil Nadu entails the dredging of a 167 km-canal across the Gulf of Mannar, linking it to the Palk Bay.
The MASSC says the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) had said the centre would clear the project only after expert reports were available on environmental consequences of dredging and the changes in the project that the 2004 Tsunami called for. 'But the clearance has been given without these reports,' it said.
'The Tamil Nadu government and the central government have not, to date, released either photographs or videos of the sites of excavation and dredging and work on the new canal,' suggesting non-transparency in project implementation, the statement said.
It said that 'at the present rate of work', the project will need another 15 years to be completed. 'This will entail considerable cost overruns.'
Union Shipping and Transport Minister T.R. Baalu this week inaugurated the 35-km dredging in Adam's Bridge area (a set of coral reefs) off Rameswaram and announced that ships will move through the canal in 2008.
Meanwhile, the Tamil Nadu government has announced that a study has been undertaken on the consequences of the project for the coral reefs and marine life in the dredging area. The study is being conducted by four researchers of the Annamalai University from on board a research vessel.
The canal, the government says, will facilitate sea travel between the East and West coasts of India without ships having to go around the southern tip of Sri Lanka and save 350 nautical miles of travel. The canal was first envisioned by A.D Taylor, a British engineer, in 1860 but dredging began only in 2005. <!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->Mass fast against Sethusamudram canal project
Thursday, 14 December 2006 | http://www.nerve.in/news:25350027319 | channel: India
"Meanwhile, the Tamil Nadu government has announced that a study has been undertaken on the consequences of the project for the coral reefs and marine life in the dredging area. The study is being conducted by four researchers of the Annamalai University from on board a research vessel. "
Chennai, Dec 14 - A mass hunger strike will be held Friday against the Sethusamudram Shipping Canal project by organisations claiming the venture had been cleared without the requisite environmental go ahead.
<b>The Movement Against Sethusamudram Shipping Canal (MASSC), a coalition of organisations opposing the project</b>, in a statement said that the project had been launched in violation of earlier assurances.
The Rs.12 billion Sethusamudram Ship Canal Project on the coast of Tamil Nadu entails the dredging of a 167 km-canal across the Gulf of Mannar, linking it to the Palk Bay.
The MASSC says the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) had said the centre would clear the project only after expert reports were available on environmental consequences of dredging and the changes in the project that the 2004 Tsunami called for. 'But the clearance has been given without these reports,' it said.
'The Tamil Nadu government and the central government have not, to date, released either photographs or videos of the sites of excavation and dredging and work on the new canal,' suggesting non-transparency in project implementation, the statement said.
It said that 'at the present rate of work', the project will need another 15 years to be completed. 'This will entail considerable cost overruns.'
Union Shipping and Transport Minister T.R. Baalu this week inaugurated the 35-km dredging in Adam's Bridge area (a set of coral reefs) off Rameswaram and announced that ships will move through the canal in 2008.
Meanwhile, the Tamil Nadu government has announced that a study has been undertaken on the consequences of the project for the coral reefs and marine life in the dredging area. The study is being conducted by four researchers of the Annamalai University from on board a research vessel.
The canal, the government says, will facilitate sea travel between the East and West coasts of India without ships having to go around the southern tip of Sri Lanka and save 350 nautical miles of travel. The canal was first envisioned by A.D Taylor, a British engineer, in 1860 but dredging began only in 2005. <!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->