The Coastal Action Network (CAN) has demanded the scrapping of the Sethusamudram project, “which was ecologically destructive and economically unviable,” and for declaring the Adam’s Bridge or ‘Ram Sethu’ as an international geographical heritage site.
Addressing a press conference, Ossie Fernandes, co-convener of the Network said he hoped that the Supreme Court, which had completed hearings for the case, would soon pass orders on the project. The apex court had in 2007 directed suspension of work on the project and instructed the Centre to undertake a study of the impacts of the proposed new alignment.
According to Mr. Fernandes, the Dr. Pachouri Committee Report filed in the Supreme Court had also shown that the route 4A and Route 6 were not feasible.
K. Gopalakrishnan, former director of the Geological Survey of India said the project area was ridden with four sets of deep crustal faults and prone to a recurrence of volcanic vents that have been reported in the past in the Gulf of Mannar.
