Ram Sethu: SC likely to consider Govt's plea

New Delhi: The Supreme Court is likely to consider the government's appeal for more time to present its stance in the Ram Sethu case on Tuesday.

The apex court, on January 5, had directed the Centre to place before it the PM-appointed expert panel report on the feasibility of building an alternative shipping channel through Dhanuskodi instead of Ram Sethu around the country's southern tip.

The project was flagged off in 2005 but later met opposition following a decision to dredge 'Ramasethu', believed to have been constructed by Lord Ram to cross to Sri Lanka.

A number of petitions, some of them transferred from Madras High Court to the apex court, have objected to the project on the ground of environmental concerns.

On April 21, 2010, the Supreme Court had put a virtual stop to Sethu Samudram Shipping Channel Project (SSCP), saying it would await a "full and comprehensive" Environmental Impact Analysis on feasibility of an alternative route through Dhanuskodi instead of Ram Sethu.