NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Monday decided to hear on May 28 a petition opposing the ongoing Setusamudram project, proposed to be implemented by destroying ‘Rama setu’, a barrier situated south east of Rameshwaram, connecting Talaimanar coast of Sri Lanka.
A Bench comprising Justice Arijit Pasayat and Justice D K Jain posted the matter for next Monday asking the Registry to place before it the records of the two similar petition which came for hearing before the apex court earlier.
While referring the two earlier petitions against the Setusamudram Shipping Canal Project (SSCP), the Bench observed "we cannot have this (issue of project) in installment".
"After all it is a policy decision," it said before deferring the hearing of the petition in which both scientific and religious objections have been raised against the destruction of the Ramsetu, also known as Rama’s Bridge, situated near Pamban in Rameshwaram.
The court was hearing a PIL filed by Swami Sri Vidyananda Bharatiji, a Dandi Monk of the Shakaracharya Order and local resident of Rameshwaram, Tamil Nadu, now residing at Thirunelveli.
The Monk has contended that the project would adversely impact the environment and the existence of Rama’s Bridge was acting as barrier in stopping Tsunami spread.
However, during the brief hearing when the counsel for the Monk was trying to impress the court that the implementation of the project may cause disastrous conditions in India and Sri Lanka, the Bench observed "hoe do you know these aspects were not considered when the project was cleared".
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