Demonstration against Sethusamudram project

Members of various non-governmental organisations staged a demonstration in front of the municipal office here on Friday, demanding the authorities to stop the implementation of Sethusamudram Ship Canal Project.

They alleged that owing to the dredging activities under way, fishing nets worth Rs. 1.5 crore had been damaged till date.

The agitators said that ever since the dredging operation affected fishing activities in the Gulf of Mannar and the project was harming the coral eco-system in the region.

They pointed out that a good part of the soil and silt, which were dredged, were flowing back to the channel owing to improper techniques adopted, thus wasting the taxpayers' money. About 150 persons took part in the demonstration.

Source: The Hindu