A six-member experts committee headed by Rajendra K. Pachauri, director-general, Tata Energy Research Institute, has now been set up to look at an alternative alignment, avoiding the Ramar Sethu stretch, for implementing the Sethusamudram Shipping Channel Project.

The present alignment Number Six was selected for implementation after other possibilities were rejected as unsafe or ecologically unacceptable. Alignment FOUR was considered the next alternative to the present one. However, FOUR was rejected earlier by the Union Ministry for Environment and Forests as early as in 1999.

Now the question is if the alignment FOUR could be altered, so that there would be no objection from the environmentalists. Here the only problem will be of cutting the land between Dhanushkodi and the Land's End in Rameswaram. If this is to be avoided, then we will have to take the channel circuitously around Dhanushkodi. However, this might affect the fishermen.

Of course, the panel will now study all the alternate routes. It will also study its impact on culture, environment and law and order.

The ambitious project has been stalled for quite some time now. When will the Panel submit its report is any body's guess. Considering the issues involved, it may not be able to submit its report before the General Elections. This delay will suit the Congress Party, though it is going to be an irritant to the DMK which wants its super-fast implementation.

Let's wait and see if it is going to be FOUR, SIX or ZERO.