The Hindu : Front Page : Baalu allays fears on dredging

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Sunday, Jul 24, 2005

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Baalu allays fears on dredging

Staff Reporter

Study shows dredging has got no adverse impact on eco-system: Union Minister

TIRUNELVELI: The Environmental Impact Monitoring of the Sethusamudram Ship Channel Project (SSCP), carried out by experts of Alagappa University, Karaikudi, on physico-chemical parameters of dredging shows there is no threat to the marine eco-system, Union Minister for Shipping, Road Transport and Highways T.R. Baalu said on Saturday.

Speaking to reporters here after holding the second review meeting of the SSCP, Mr. Baalu said the experts prepared baseline data on temperature, salinity, turbidity of dredging and dumping locations near the shore at Point Calimere and Muthupet before and after the dredging.

"The results submitted by the experts have shown that the dredging exercise has got no adverse impact on the environment and is no way detrimental to the delicate marine ecosystem of that zone. Hence, the work is going on as per schedule. The Dredging Corporation of India, which has been assigned with the work of dredging 13.57 km, has completed work on 3,64,741 cubic meter on July 22 with its Trailer Suction Hopper Dredger."

A global tender notice for work at Adam's Bridge and Palk Strait was floated on July 9 for dredging from Gulf of Mannar to Adam's Bridge (Rs. 353 crores), from Adam's Bridge to Palk Bay (Rs. 621 crores) and from Palk Bay to Palk Strait (Rs. 364 crores).

After finalising the agency, the work would start on November 1 this year, Mr. Baalu said.

Preparation of designs, drawings and tender documents for on-shore facilities, procurement of navigational aids and port crafts were being carried out simultaneously.

Arrangements were made for pre-dredging and post-dredging bathymetric survey along the alignment of SSCP and for tidal observations at five locations for the establishment of sounding datum for a pre-dredging survey.

Mr. Baalu criticised the Tuticorin district administration for "abruptly adjourning" the public hearing recently in the district for the inner-harbour development of port.

Road widening work

He appealed to the Tamil Nadu Government, which had so far acquired 57 per cent of land required for the road widening projects in the State, to hand over the rest at the earliest.

"The State Government should realise that every rupee invested in the road project would generate an attractive revenue of Rs. 7 and, hence, land acquisition should be completed immediately," he said.

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