Wednesday, July 27 2005 16:19 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: The Government today (July 27, 2005) sought to allay fears about ecological damage arising due to the ambitious Sethusamudram project saying 'adequate' care has been taken to ensure that the impact was 'minimal'.

"While formulating the (Sethusamudram) project, adequate care has been taken to ensure that adverse impact on environment is minimal," Minister of Shipping, Road Transport and Highways T R Baalu told Lok Sabha during Question Hour.

He said environmentalists have raised concerns including damage to marine ecology, marine flora and fauna, coral reefs, adverse effects on fish breeding and fish catching and two rounds of public hearing have been conducted as part of the process for obtaining environmental clearance for the project.

Representatives of fishermen and Non-Governmental organizations were also present during the hearings, he said.

The conditions attached with the environmental clearance enjoin upon project authority to monitor marine environment quality periodically and take all necessary measures to protect the bio-diversity including endangered species of mangroves, corals and mammals, the Minister said.

Baalu said a comprehensive impact assessment study extended over a period of two years, was undertaken by the National Environment Engineering and Research Institute,Nagpur.

"The dredged area is minimal when compared to vast Gulf of Mannar and Palk Bay areas. To that extent, the alignment chosen presents no ecological concerns on destruction of microorganisms, bottom flora and fauna of seabed," the Minister added.