Friday, October 29, 2004
Local environmentalists divert Sethusamudram to the Hague?
By Damitha Hemachandra
A local environmental foundation yesterday said it would go to the International Courts in the Hague to settle the prevailing conflict over the proposed Sethusamudram Shipping Canal Project (SSCP) if the Sri Lankan government failed to react immediately to the situation.
Spokesman for The Environment Foundation Limited (EFL), Vinod Munasinghe said the Foundation had already submitted a report and recommendations on the SSCP to the Inter-ministerial Joint Committee appointed to look into the matter.
"We are awaiting the comments by the committee," he said.
The EFL in their report called for a joint Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) by both Indian and Sri Lankan environmental authorities prior to the implementation of the project.
The EFL in its report called for a proper study including a comprehensive modelling of potential water flows.
Meanwhile a recent study by the National Aquatic Research Authority (NARA) revealed that the dredging of the two channels would increase the water flow from the Bay of Bengal to the Gulf of Mannar disturbing the inland water balance as well as the eco-systems in the Gulf.
A local environmental foundation yesterday said it would go to the International Courts in the Hague to settle the prevailing conflict over the proposed Sethusamudram Shipping Canal Project (SSCP) if the Sri Lankan government failed to react immediately to the situation.
Spokesman for The Environment Foundation Limited (EFL), Vinod Munasinghe said the Foundation had already submitted a report and recommendations on the SSCP to the Inter-ministerial Joint Committee appointed to look into the matter.
"We are awaiting the comments by the committee," he said.
The EFL in their report called for a joint Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) by both Indian and Sri Lankan environmental authorities prior to the implementation of the project.
The EFL in its report called for a proper study including a comprehensive modelling of potential water flows.
Meanwhile a recent study by the National Aquatic Research Authority (NARA) revealed that the dredging of the two channels would increase the water flow from the Bay of Bengal to the Gulf of Mannar disturbing the inland water balance as well as the eco-systems in the Gulf.
