With another 10 days to go before the Special committee on Sethusamudram submits its final report on the controversial project before the Supreme Court, the several complaints and ‘suggestions’ received are now being put together and assessed. As many as 64 people have submitted their view before the ten- member committee.“We have received diverse views on the subject and some 64 people have submitted their opinions to the committee as of 31st October, the last date for sharing of views with the committee. These people are free to appear before the committee until 3rd November. The report will finally be submitted to the apex court on 11th November,” said a senior official of the committee.The views raised before the committee span the entire gamut of issues on the controversial project ranging from economic viability to environmental, navigational, security, historical, religious, social and developmental factors. The committee recently came under severe criticism after the credibility and neutrality of the committee members were questioned. However, last week the SC had turned down the plea made by Janata Party President Subramaniam Swamy asking the court to quash the committee and appoint ‘independent experts’.The committee was constituted by the government in October and had invited objections and suggestions from all concerned including the writ Petitioners in the court cases in the SC of India having interest in the Sethu Samudram Shipping Channel Project. The Committee will consider all suggestions/proposals/documents after giving them a personal hearing from 29th October, 2007 to 6th November, 2007. Out of these days, the period from 4th to 6th November, 2007 has been kept for giving personal hearing to the Petitioners, who can come on any of these days as per their convenience. To participate in the hearing, proof of having submitted the objections/suggestions in the form of an acknowledgement of the Committee or Postal receipt have to be produced by all concerned except the Petitioners.Prof S Ramachandran, Chairman of the Monitoring Committee on Environmental Impact Issues for the Sethusamudram Shipping Channel Project and the VC of the Madras University is the convenor of the committee that also has Dr S R Wate, Dy Director National Environmental Engineering Research Institute, Nagpur, R K Jain MD, Indian Ports Association & Member Secretary and Dr. M. Sakthivel - President of Aqua Culture Foundation of India.
