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No major changes have been observed in the marine
environment due to work on the Sethusamudram Ship Channel Project in
the Bay of Bengal, the reconstituted monitoring committee on
environmental issues said in Madurai recently.
Committee chairman, Prof S Ramachandran, told
reporters after discussions with scientists, historians and
engineers that the minor changes found were within permissible
limits and would also occur naturally.
"The environment impact is being monitored very
closely, on an hourly basis. In the last 22 months I can with
certainty say that the fish catch has improved and the variety of
fish coming to Gulf of Mannar also has increased," he said.
He refuted the charge of fishermen that their
boats were getting stuck in the area as silt dredged from the sea
was not being dumped in the designated sites and said the debris was
being dumped in 25-foot-deep sea. The existence of sand dunes could
be due to the impact of the tsunami.
"Those opposed to the project have not
substantiated their claims on the environmental impact while we have
proved there is no impact. Besides, dredging is going on around the
world in various places and there is no harmful impact," he said.
Ramchandran said the fish population would not be
affected even after the channel was dug, as oil tankers and ships
laden with chemicals would not be allowed to pass through the area.
"The sea will be monitored till the SSCP is over and even after
that," he said. (Agencies)
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