The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : Sethu project: global bids floated for dredging

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Jul 13, 2005

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Sethu project: global bids floated for dredging

Special Correspondent

Work involves dredging about 70 million cubic metres at three sites

CHENNAI: Dredging work for about 75 km of the Sethusamudram Ship Channel will begin by November, the Union Shipping Minister, T.R. Baalu, told mediapersons on Tuesday.

Global bids have been floated and a period of 45 days has been given for the receipt of tender documents. The work involves dredging about 70 million cubic metres at three sites of the Palk Strait and Adam's Bridge areas.

Already, for dredging 13.55 million cubic metres, the work has been assigned to the Dredging Corporation of India. Since the launch of the project on July 2, the quantity dredged by the Corporation was two lakh cubic metres. The Union Minister said, "at this rate, they may complete the work in 20 months, instead of the allotted 24 months."

A vessel with 4,500 cubic metres dredging capacity was being utilised now. Hereafter, another vessel of 7,500 cubic metres capacity would be deployed.

No adverse impact

After the work began, Alagappa University at Karaikudi had been assessing the impact on the environment from the point of view of different parameters. The study covered the sites of dredging and dumping besides Kodiakkarai (Point Calimere) and Muthupet. (Kodiakkarai has a wildlife sanctuary and Muthupet is known for mangroves).

Test bore wells were sunk for drawing water from the depths of two metres and five metres to test the water quality. Samples were taken every four hours.

"After comparing the data taken in June with the latest, the analysis reveals no adverse impact on the environment," the Minister said.

Mr. Baalu said no one from the project execution team was associated with the environmental study.

At Madurai, a workshop would be held on July 15 in which over 40 environmental experts from different parts of the country would attend. Representatives from the Annamalai University's Centre for Advanced Studies in Marine Biology, the Suganthi Devasadan Marine Research Centre at Tuticorin and the Union Environment and Forests Ministry were likely to discuss different aspects of environmental protection. The Minster hoped that the deliberations would be useful for the project promoters.

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