Eight weeks later, the Centre will reveal to the Supreme Court, fate of the controversial Sethusamudram Shipping Canal Project, the work on which was stayed following its structural alignment posing harm to the mythological Rama Sethu.

With an expert committee headed by Nobel laureate and eminent environmental scientist RK Pachauri tasked with the study of whether the project was feasible without damaging the Sethu, the Centre on Thursday informed the Court that the report will be tabled in Court in eight weeks.

The Committee constituted on June 29, 2008 comprises Acting Director, National Environmental Engineering Research Institute, Director, National Institute of Oceanography, Director, National Institute of Oceanography, Chief Hydrographer, Government of India, and Director General, Geological Survey of India. Tamil Nadu government’s Principal Secretary (Environment and Forests) and Ramanathapuram District Collector have been included as special invitees.

The Bench of Justices HL Dattu and CK Prasad posted the matter for hearing on March 27 after it recorded the submission of Additional Solicitor General (ASG) Harin P Raval. The Court even directed the Centre to supply a copy of the report to the petitioners. One of the petitioners Subramanian Swamy demanded the Sethu to be declared a national monument, which the Court would consider after going through the report.