Sethu project skating on thin ice

NEW DELHI: The fate of the Rs2087 crore Sethusamudram project hangs in the balance if the Supreme Court’s observations are any indication.

“The question is whether the project itself has to be scrapped or not,” a bench headed by chief justice KG Balkrishnan said, while giving the Centre another two weeks to file the affidavit.

This will outline a ‘democratic mechanism’ to complete the task. The affidavit was to have been submitted last September

In its interim order, following the Centre’s withdrawal of its affidavit questioning the existence of Rama, the court had allowed dredging in the basin to the extent that it did not damage the bridge.

Janata party president, Subramaniam Swamy and a few others sought the court’s intervention against Sethusamudram Corporation’s move to use explosives and blow up the bridge.

He lambasted the state government for pursuing the project and ignoring sentiments of people.  “Yesterday the same government took the plea of (respecting) religious sentiments for holding Jallikattu,” Swamy said.