The Centre has appointed a six-member committee to consider issue of alternative route to save Ram Sethu [ Images ].

The Centre told the Supreme Court that the possibility of pushing the Sethusamudram project through an alternative alignment to avoid any damage to 'Ram Sethu' is being given serious consideration by the government.

The government's view was conveyed by senior advocate Fali S Nariman to a bench headed by Chief Justice K G Balakrishnan [ Images ] hearing the issue.

The expert committee will be headed by noted scientist R K Pachauri, Director General of Tata Energy Research Institute. The Committee has been asked to submit its report as quickly as possible.

The Committee will quickly examine the feasibility of the alternative alignment suggested by the Supreme Court for the project between Dhanushkodi and Land End on Rameshwaram island keeping in view the technical aspects, cost-benefit analysis, social and cultural impact, environmental impact, law and order aspects and any other related matter.