By IANS
Chennai : The people of Tamil Nadu “will not accept” any decision to halt the controversial Sethusamudram Shipping Canal Project, Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi said Saturday.
Even if the experts’ committee appointed by the government okayed a realignment of the proposed canal, the people will not accept the stalling of the project, “in the name of something that does not exist”, he said, alluding to the criticism from some Hindu groups.
Several Hindu outfits and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) have protested the cutting of the Rs.240 billion canal through a geographical formation known as Adam’s Bridge or Ram Sethu, which they believe was built in Hindu god Ram’s time.
The present alignment, cutting through Adam’s Bridge, “was approved by former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and endorsed by BJP ministers”, Karunanidhi pointed out.
“The people are looking forward to the benefits of the Sethusamudram project,” he said.
The project is aimed at developing a shorter navigation route for ships.