Pachauri warns of ecological consequences on Sethusamundram
Kolkata, Apr 7 (PTI) With the Centre ignoring the Pachauri Committee
report advising against implementation of the controversial Sethusamundram
project, eminent scientist R K Pachauri has said that he stands by
the report and warned of serious ecological ramifications.
"We stand by what we said in our report that the project will not
be economically and ecologically viable," Pachauri, chairperson of
the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), said.
Talking to reporters on the sidelines of IIM Calcutta convocation
here last night, he said the committee headed by him came to the
aforesaid conclusion after a comprehensive reading of all factors
like ocean current and wind patterns.
"Our conclusion is very robust. Now it is for the government to
decide what it wants to do," said Pachauri, also the director-general
of The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI).
Centre, in an affidavit filed before the Supreme Court, had said
it intended to go ahead with the Rs 25,000 crore Sethusamudram shipping
channel project on the ground that it has economic, navigational
and strategic advantages and moreover an expenditure of Rs 829.32
crore has already been incurred on it as on June 30, 2012.
The project is aimed at constructing a shorter navigational route
around India's southern tip by breaching the Ram Sethu, said to have
been built by Lord Rama's army of monkeys and bears to Ravana's kingdom Lanka.
The Prime Minister had appointed the RK Pachauri Committee after
the apex court had asked the government to explore an alternative
alignment for the shipping channel to prevent any damage to the mythological
bridge. PTI
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