The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : `Those opposing Sethu project are acting against State'

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, May 18, 2007
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Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

`Those opposing Sethu project are acting against State'

Special Correspondent

CHENNAI: Chief Minister M.Karunanidhi on Wednesday alleged that those opposing the Sethusamudram Canal Project were acting against the interests of the State, as the project would bring economic prosperity to Tamil Nadu and also make India a super power.

Addressing a public meeting organised by the Sethusamudram Project Protection Committee here, the Chief Minister said it was strange that those who supported the project earlier were now against it.

The Chief Minister said the present alignment for the canal was recommended by the National Environmental and Engineering Institute (NEERI) when the National Democratic Alliance Government, headed by the Bharatiya Janata Party, was ruling the Centre.

The NEERI recommended that the canal could be dug by removing the Adam's Bridge. It also said that this alignment would be environmentally safe and would not affect the marine species.

It was the Adam's Bridge, which was now been called the Ramar Setu.

He said there was no such bridge as Ramar Setu; it existed only in the imagination of the people.

He alleged that some political parties in the State were trying to sabotage the project in the name of Rama. The people of the State would not pardon them.

Mr. Karunanidhi said the All-India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, in its election manifesto in 2001, had appealed to the Centre to implement the project by removing the Adam's Bridge. Now they were opposing it for political reasons.

The Chief Minister suggested that similar meetings should be conducted throughout the State and the alliance parties should actively support those meetings.

`Nothing wrong'

Earlier, Tamil Nadu Congress Committee president M. Krishnasswamy said there was nothing wrong in removing a bridge for the benefit of the people.

Pattali Makkal Katchi president G.K. Mani said people should stand united for implementing the project.

State Secretary of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) N.Varadarajan said communal elements were trying to stall the project by invoking the name of Rama.

Communist Party of India State Secretary D. Pandiyan said more meetings should be organised to create awareness among people about the project.

Dravidar Kazhagam president K.Veeramani and Viduthalai Chiruthaigal leader Thol.Thirumavalavan appealed to people not to fall prey to the "false propaganda" of some vested interests.

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