The Centre will soon carry out a feasibility study on establishing a road link between Rameswaram and Talaimannar in Sri Lanka, said Pon. Radhakrishnan, Union Minister of State for Transport, Highways and Shipping.
“India is keen on implementing the project. It needs the consent of both countries. The project needs to be discussed at various levels,” he told reporters here on Saturday.
Stating that the Centre had begun consultations to carry out a feasibility study on various aspects, Mr. Radhakrishnan said the sea bridge was aimed at ensuring seamless traffic between the two nations.
To a question, he said the Centre had studied different alignments to implement the Sethusamudram Ship Canal Project (SSCP). It would be implemented by adopting a new alignment without affecting the sentiments of the people and the ecology of Gulf of Mannar. The government would expedite the project once the Supreme Court disposed a case pending before it.
The BJP shared the sentiments of fishermen and the Centre had already initiated diplomatic talks with Sri Lanka to secure the release of the fishermen who were arrested recently.
Cauvery water
On charges levelled by the farmers of delta region against the Central government for failing to impress upon Karnataka to release water to Tamil Nadu as per the Cauvery tribunal and forming Cauvery Water Regulatory Authority, the Minister said the Congress government in Karnataka had been adopting an indifferent attitude towards releasing water.
It should respect the verdict and release the quantum of water as per the tribunal order. The Centre would take all possible steps to release water.
Road projects
Asked whether the Central government was getting needed support on implementing road projects in Tamil Nadu, Mr. Radhakrishnan said it was expecting proactive cooperation from the State government. He was keen on meeting the Chief Minister Jayalalithaa to discuss various projects that required close cooperation between the Centre and the State governments.
