By IANS
New Delhi : The Supreme Court Monday dismissed as withdrawn two petitions seeking stay of the Sethusamudram canal project between India and Sri Lanka through the Gulf of Mannar.
A vacation bench of Justices Arijit Pasayat and D.K. Jain dismissed as withdrawn the petitions filed by Dandi Swami Sri Vidyananda Bharati and Deeksha Mishra, alleging that the project if implemented would destroy Ram Setu, the ancient bridge built by Lord Ram to link India and Sri Lanka as described in the epic Ramayana.
The petitions were dismissed on the ground that the petitioners had not complained to the concerned authorities. The bench asked them to approach the appropriate authorities first.
The petitioners contended that the project was to be implemented by destroying a barrier formed in the bay called Ram Setu, situated south east of Rameswaram near Pamban and connecting Talaimannar coast of Sri Lanka.
They said that satellite pictures had proved the existence of the bridge.
The petition submitted that the clearance for the project had been obtained through the National Environmental Engineering Research Institute, a central government agency.
It said they were alarmed about the implementation of the project as eminent experts in the field of tsunamis, geo-morphologists and mineralogists had warned of disastrous effects.
While seeking stay of the project, the petitions sought a direction to the government and other authorities to search for an alternative route, if possible, excluding the site of Ram Setu.