PM Modi seeks views of ministries on Sethusamudram plans

NEW DELHI: Before the Narendra Modi Cabinet takes a final decision on realignment of the politically sensitive Sethusamudram project, the Prime Minister wants some key ministers to be appraised about the alternative plan. Sources said he wants a consensus among the informal group of ministers.
Though the shipping ministry has circulated a Cabinet note seeking approval for navigation of bigger vessels through the Pamban Pass, connecting Rameswaram Island with the mainland, the PM’s missive came recently and the meeting is scheduled this week.This will ensure no damage to the Ram Sethu, a political decision that the BJP has already announced.
Earlier, shipping ministry officials had made a detailed presentation to another group, which included home minister Rajnath Singh, finance minister Arun Jaitley, shipping minister Nitin Gadkari, urban development minister Venkaiah Naidu and fertilizer minister Ananth Kumar. Now, the new group will have a few more ministers including foreign minister Sushma Swaraj, tourism minister Mahesh Sharma and commerce minister Nirmala Sitharaman.
“A couple of ministers from the earlier group have been dropped. It may have been thought that since all of them had earlier approved the new proposal of increasing the depth of Pamban Pass, there was no need to call them again for the same presentation,” a highly placed source said.
He added that once the Cabinet takes a decision, shipping ministry will submit a fresh affidavit in the Supreme Court mentioning the alternative to the proposed alignment of Sethusamudram project.
At present, vessels carrying only 1,000 tonnes cargo sail through Pamban Pass and on an average 15 vessels pass through the “open bridge” every month and it is usually opened twice a month for such movement. The bridge across Palk Strait was opened for traffic in 1914.
Government officials said there was a plan to dredge the channel to 11 metres and this would enable vessels carrying 30,000 tonnes to pass through this route. After Cabinet approval, there will be a detailed study and a project report will be prepared.