SC to wait for final report on Sethusamudram project

The Supreme Court today ruled out passing any direction relating to the controversial Sethusamudram project saying it will wait for the final report of the expert committee, which is examining the feasibility of carrying it through Dhanuskodi instead of Rama Setu.

The Supreme Court on Wednesday ruled out passing any direction relating to the controversial Sethusamudram project saying it will wait for the final report of the expert committee, which is examining the feasibility of carrying it through Dhanuskodi instead of Rama Setu.

HT Image

The apex court said any decision on the isse will be taken after the committee submits its report in February, 2011.

"At this stage, the question does not arise of passing any order," a Bench, comprising Chief Justice K G Balakrishnan and Justices R V Raveendran and J M Panchal, said when Janata Party Chief Subramanian Swamy said that the court consider either invalidating the project or asking the authorities to examine whether Rama Setu could be declared a historical monument.

"Now alternative alignment is being examined. The original plan has been stopped, about which you have been worried. Let's go step by step," the Bench said.

The Bench said the issue of invalidating the project did not arise as "the reason is what you wanted has been achieved."

"Let the final report come," the Bench said posting the matter for last week of February 2011.

The apex court considered the response of the expert committee Chairman R K Pachauri that it was not technically feasible to give any opinion or report on the basis of data collected for a lesser period than three months.