NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Monday refused to stay the implementation of the Rs. 2,400-crore Sethusamudram Ship Channel Project (SSCP).

A three-judge Bench comprising Justice Y.K. Sabharwal, Justice C.K. Thakker and Justice S.H. Kapadia, however, issued notice to the Centre and others and granted four weeks for filing of response and two weeks thereafter for rejoinder. The Bench directed that the case be listed thereafter.

Notice was issued to the Union Environment, Shipping and Surface Transport Ministries, Shipping Minister T.R. Baalu, the National Environmental Engineering Research Institute, the Tamil Nadu Government, the Tuticorin Port Trust and the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board.

Poser to counsel

The Bench told senior counsel Sriram Panchu, appearing for petitioner O. Fernandes, co-convener of the Coastal Action Network, "we are not going to reject." It asked him "do you want the project [to continue] or only safeguards to be followed?"

Mr. Panchu said the mandatory Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) proceedings had been grossly violated and no comprehensive study of the impact on environment conducted. Only a rapid EIA was done.

One million cubic feet of seabed was dredged in an area affected by the tsunami. As the post-tsunami effects were not assessed, "let them not do the dredging since over 5,400 villages will be affected," counsel said.

He also said the Madras High Court made unwarranted observations while dismissing the petition.

"Concerns addressed"

Opposing the plea for stay, Solicitor-General G.E. Vahanvati and Additional Solicitor-General R. Mohan said Prime Minister Manmohan Singh inaugurated the project on July 2 only after he was satisfied that the Government had addressed all environmental concerns. The Solicitor-General said the project was undertaken in the national interest.

He assured the court that the Government would take care of all environmental issues and safeguards.

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