Opposition parties are demanding implementation of Sethusamudram canal project using one of the five alternative alignments considered by Government earlier without damaging Ramsetu structure. Indian government has constituted nine committees before Independence and five committees after independence. Most of the committees have suggested a land based alignment across Rameswaram island. None of them have suggested alignment across Rams Bridge or Rama Setu. "9 Committees before Independence and 5 committees after Independence have been formed to evaluate Sethusamudram Shipping canal project. None of them have suggested alignment across Ram's bridge.” If the Sethu Samudram Shipping Canal project is implemented in its present form, large vessels could not pass through it and this cannot be a realisation of the dream of DMK founder C N Annadurai, Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (MDMK) leader Vaiko said.
Anna dreamt about a project, which would allow larger vessels to pass through and if the project was implemented in the present form, only vessels below the capacity of 30 tonne could move through the canal, he told reporters here on Sunday.
Vaiko was here to attend a public meeting in which he was handed over Rs 35 lakh election funds collected by the district unit. He asserted that the MDMK was firm in its stand of supporting the project, but it wanted the project to be carried out according to Anna’s vision.He said, the accomplishment of the project as per the DMK founder’s plans would be a boon for the nation and benefit Tamil Nadu. Vaiko also accused the DMK of not doing anything to implement the project when the party was in power at the Centre. DMK organised protests to divert people’s attention, he said. “On September 15, as a part of Anna’s birth anniversary celebration, the party would organise a state level conference at Virudhunagar,” said Vaiko.
http://newindianexpress.com/states/tamil_nadu/Sethu-samudram-project-not-as-per-Annas-dream-Vaiko/2013/07/22/article1695520.ece