Sethusamudram ship channel project

he alternative alignment suggested for the controversial Sethusamudram ship channel project to avoid damage to the mythological Ram Sethu is not feasible, both economically and ecologically, a high-power expert committee has concluded.
Explaining the committee’s report to the Supreme Court today, Solicitor General Rohinton Nariman said the Union Cabinet would consider the report soon and take a decision. A Bench comprising Justices HL Dattu and CK Prasad granted eight weeks time for the purpose.
According to the committee, headed by environmentalist RK Pachauri, the alternative route between India and Sri Lanka for the ships going from the east coast to the west coast did not rule out oil spill or the threat to the biosphere reserve in the event of a spill.
The 167-km project, estimated to cost over Rs 2,000 crore, is meant for shortening the shipping distance between the eastern and western coasts of India and reducing the shipment cost of oil and other commodities.
It ran into trouble following objections by political parties and religious bodies, pointing out that the approved alignment for the navigation route would damage the Ram Sethu, believed to have been built by Lord Ram to reach Sri Lanka by crossing the sea.
Further controversy cropped up when the Centre filed two affidavits questioning the existence of Lord Ram and Ram Sethu. Though the government subsequently withdrew the affidavits, the SC had asked the Centre in 2007 to examine an alternative route circumventing the mythological bridge.
The expert committee said an economic analysis showed that the alternative channel was not meeting the benchmark 12 per cent return even after ignoring possible engineering ‘surprises’ and the cost escalation arising from delays. 
The projectThe 167-km project, estimated to cost over Rs 2,000 crore, is meant for shortening the shipping distance between the eastern and western coasts of India