The Centre on Thursday conceded to the demand of environmentalists and religious activists on the Sethusamudram project and accepted the suggestion of the Supreme Court to look for an alternative route for dredging operations.

Senior counsel Nariman, defending the project, said in court that the suggestion for alternative alignment to avoid Ram Sethu has been taken as a special case. "I have personally taken it at the highest level. It is being scientifically examined. I will come back to you by Tuesday or Wednesday," he told the bench headed by Chief Justice K.G. Balakrishnan.

The Union government is likely to go ahead with the contentious Sethusamudram Project. Sources disclose that the government will defend the project when the case comes up for hearing on Tuesday and will reply to petitions demanding that the Ram Sethu or the Adam's Bridge be declared as a national monument and World Heritage site.