Union Shipping Minister T R Baalu usually avoids making comments on the controversial Sethusamudram project.

However, on Wednesday, replying to a question raised in the Lok Sabha on the targeted time for the project’s completion, Baalu said the shipping canal project is “expected to become operational in November 2008” and added that this will happen “depending on the final judgment of the Supreme Court”. He said the project was “approved by the Government in May 2005, after obtaining all necessary clearances and inter-ministerial consultations”.

He said following the submissions made by the Government counsel before the apex court last year on certain transferred cases and writ petitions regarding the project, the Government had constituted a committee of eminent persons to invite objections and suggestions from all concerned.

As reported by The Indian Express, rounds of meetings are being held by the Cabinet Committee on Political Affairs to draft a more cautious affidavit before the Supreme Court on the project this time. The UPA Government had come under fire last year attracting widespread criticism after its affidavit was said to have questioned the very existence of Ram.