Sethusamudram project: Rama Setu not to be damaged, says SC
New Delhi, Aug. 31 (PTI): The Supreme Court today put on hold demolition of the "Rama Setu", a mythical bridge situated south-east off Rameshwaram, connecting the Talaimanar coast of Sri Lanka, for carrying out the ongoing Sethusamudram project.
"Till September 14, the alleged Rama Setu or Adams bridge shall not be damaged in any way," a Bench comprising Justices B N Agrawal and P P Naolekar said in an interim order.
However, it allowed the dredging activity for the project to continue to the extent that it did not in anyway cause any destruction to the Rama Setu.
The Rs 2087 crore project to establish and maintain a ship canal from the west coast of India to the east coast without going around Sri Lanka was cleared by Ministry of Environment and Forest and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had inaugurated it on July 2, 2005.
The order was passed on on urgent application moved by Janata Party President Subramanian Swamy alleging that the Centre has decided to use explosive to blow the bridge.
Additional Solicitor General Gopal Subramanium made repeated pleas that there was no urgency for passing any interim order and the court could wait till Wednesday when the Centre will file its comprehensive affidavit on the matter.
However, the Bench wanted a specific assurance from the Centre that it will not carry any activity at the site which will in any way damage the Rama Setu till the matter was heard next week.
"If you (Centre) are in a position to say that ongoing construction would not in any way damage Rama Setu we will consider you," the Bench made this observation several times during an hour-long hearing when the matter was mentioned.
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