Indian Govt to go ahead with Sethusamudram project

Ahead of crucial trust vote, the government bows to pressure from its ally -- the DMK -- to file affidavit to allow work on the Sethusamudram project.

Government will file an affidavit in the Supreme Court tomorrow asking for work to progress on Sethusamudaram project. Government is also planning to submit that ASI survey is not important. The
government's turnaround - considering it had earlier suggested that the Archaeological survey is imperative - is being seen as a surrender to the DMK.

The government's turnaround will come as a major boost to DMK. DMK has been pushing for the project to go ahead.

In its time of crisis it's only natural for the Congress to be more dependent on its allies, and so it comes as no surprise that the government has had to bow to the wishes of the DMK.

What is Sethusamudram?

Sethusamudram Ship Channel Project, which envisages dredging of a ship channel across the Palk straits between India and Srilanka, is finally taking shape. The project will alllow ships sailing between the east and west costs of India to have a straight passage through India's territorial waters, instead of having to circumvent Sri Lanka. This will lead to a saving of upto 424 nautical miles (780 Km) and upto to 30 hours in sailing time.

Two channels will be created - one across north of Adam's Bridge (the chain of islets and shallows linking India with Sri Lanka) South - east of Pamban Island and another through the shallows of Palk Bay, deepening the Palk straits. The total length of these two channels would be 89 Kms.

Source: timesnow