New Delhi: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has constituted a six-member experts committee headed by Rajendra K. Pachauri, director-general, Tata Energy Research Institute, to look at an alternative alignment, avoiding the Ramar Sethu stretch, for implementing the Sethusamudram Shipping Channel Project.

He is the chairman of the inter-governmental panel on climate change, which shared the 2007 Nobel peace prize.

On Wednesday, Fali Nariman, senior counsel appearing for the Centre, informed the court of the constitution of the panel.

J. Venkatesan

Verdict reserved on plea against demolition of Ramar Sethu

New Delhi: Even as the Centre announced the appointment of an experts committee to consider an alternative route for the Sethusamudram project, the Supreme Court on Wednesday reserved verdict on the petitions challenging its implementation by demolishing Adam's Bridge (Ramar Sethu).

By VINODHINI

New Delhi,July 30: The Centre has formed a second expert committee on the Sethu-samudram project, asking it to examine an alternative alignment to avoid damage to "Ram Sethu". It will be headed by Dr R.K. Pachauri, Nobel Prize-winning head of the UN climate change committee and director-general of the New Delhi-based The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI).

J. Venkatesan

Union government will consider seriously Chief Justice of India's suggestion on alternative, says counsel Fali Nariman

New Delhi: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is to take a decision on the feasibility, or otherwise, of an alternative alignment for implementing the Sethusamudram Shipping Channel Project, Fali Nariman, senior counsel for the Centre, told the Supreme Court on Tuesday.

New Delhi, July 29: Even as the possibility of an alternative alignment for the Sethusamudram project is still being considered, the Centre told the Supreme Court on Tuesday that Rama Sethu does not fulfil the criteria to be declared a national monument.

Senior counsel Fali S. Nariman, told the bench headed by Chief Justice K.G. Balakrishnan that just because a structure was ancient it cannot be declared a national monument.

It is just as well that the Centre is now seriously considering an alternative route for the Sethusamudram ship channel project. The idea of dredging the sea in shallow coastal waters to allow large seagoing vessels to pass around peninsular India is not new. Various alignments for the proposed channel have been suggested ever since 1860, all aimed at cutting costs by cutting shipping time. However, when the Manmohan Singh government gave signs of starting implementation of the project, it ran into a wall of controversy.

Centre studying court suggestion on alternative alignment for Sethu project

J. Venkatesan

New Delhi: The Centre will inform the Supreme Court on July 29 of the feasibility, or otherwise, of an alternative alignment, particularly Alignment No. 4, for implementing the Sethusamudram Shipping Channel Project.

Senior counsel Fali Nariman, appearing for the Centre, told a three-judge Bench that he had taken up at the "highest level' the court suggestion that Alignment No. 4 be considered with some modification.

J. Venkatesan

Lord Ram himself destroyed the bridge, says counsel Nariman

New Delhi: The Centre on Wednesday asserted that Lord Ram himself destroyed Ramar Sethu after his victory over Ravana and "we cannot worship something that has been destroyed.'

Senior counsel Fali Nariman, appearing for the Centre, made this submission before a three-judge Bench of the Supreme Court hearing the Sethusamudram case.

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New Delhi: The Centre is likely to spell out on Wednesday its stand on the Supreme Court's suggestion that it explore the possibility of finding an alternative alignment or any other route for the Sethusamudram Shipping Channel Project without damaging Ramar Sethu and that it consider whether an archaeological study could be conducted to declare Ramar Sethu a national monument.