CHENNAI: All environmental issues were adequately addressed while approving the Sethusamudram Ship Channel Project, Union Minister of Shipping T.R. Baalu said on Sunday.

The charges levelled by Chief Minister Jayalalithaa against the project were "baseless, politically motivated and intended towards sabotaging the century-old dream of the Tamils," he said in a statement.

The Centre had taken special care to ensure that the marine wealth, environment and the welfare of fishermen in the project area were not compromised. Even the doubts raised by an ordinary citizen were taken seriously by the Prime Minister's Office and forwarded to the Shipping as well as the Environment and Forest Ministries for comments. The Union Government would have addressed the concerns of Ms. Jayalalithaa had she conveyed them at any point of time, he said.

"It is intriguing to note that Ms. Jayalalithaa had chosen this point of time, when arrangements were on for the launch of the project, to raise such basic issues," he said.

The National Environmental Engineering Research Institute generated a comprehensive Environmental Impact Assessment report taking into view all environmental and ecological aspects of the project, he said.

The Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board conducted comprehensive public hearings in six districts twice and the Tuticorin Port Trust (TPT) had made available every relevant record. The TPT followed a very transparent procedureall through. "However, nobody knew about the setting up of the expert committee headed by Dr. M. Ravindran, former Director of the National Institute of Ocean Technology to look into the environmental issues concerning the project," the Minister said.

The TPT was not given an opportunity to place its views before the Experts Committee. Similarly, there was no statutory requirement to obtain a No-Objection Certificate from either the Tamil Nadu Government or the TNPCB before obtaining environmental clearance from the Environment and Forests Ministry for a project undertaken by the Centre.

Proper assessment

The EIA report of NEERI, he said, analysed the environmental settings in the project area — marine environment, land environment, socio-economic environment — assessed the environmental impact while recommending a detailed Environmental Management Plan, Mr. Baalu said. It contained information on wave heights measured during one year, wave refraction in the Adam's Bridge area during predominant monsoons and monthly sediment transport rates in different places during the three seasons of the year.

The Centre would ensure that fishermen would be protected during the implementation and operational phases of the project. "It will also be ensured that the coral reefs in Gulf of Mannar and Palk Bay areas are protected and the marine wealth is not endangered," he said.

Instead of making "wild allegations," Ms. Jayalalithaa should initiate steps to set up fishing harbours in the project area as suggested by the Centre, augmenting the livelihood of the local fishermen, he said.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Front Page

News: Front Page | National | Tamil Nadu | Andhra Pradesh | Karnataka | Kerala | New Delhi | Other States | International | Opinion | Business | Sport | Miscellaneous | Engagements |
Advts: Classifieds | Employment | Obituary | Updates: Breaking News |