Environment nod to Sethu project

The Environment Ministry has cleared the way for the Rs 2,000 crore Sethusamudram project.

In an order dated March 31, the Ministry said the ‘‘project is accorded environment clearance under the Environment (Impact) Assessment Notification 1994’’. It recorded the information and facts provided by the Ministry of Shipping, Tuticorin Port Trust (the nodal agency for implementing the project), proceedings of the public hearing provided by the Tamil Nadu State Pollution Control Board and recommendations of the expert committee on infrastructure development and miscellaneous projects.

The project, which looks at setting up a ship route linking Palk Strait and Gulf of Mannar through Adam’s bridge, will now be placed before the Cabinet for clearance.

The Ministry, in its sanction, says all dredged up material will be disposed of at identified sites in the sea, not on land. The total dredging envisaged for the project is around 82.5 million cubic metres.