Goa-based National Institute of Oceanography (NIO) has been nominated by Union Ministry of Shipping to carry out environmental impact assessment (EIA) for new alignment of Sethu Samudram channel joining Southern tip of India and Northern tip of Sri Lanka. A press note by Press Information Bureau (PIB) reads that the Expert Committee chaired by Dr R K Pachauri established by the Supreme Court to advise on the alignment had earlier recommended NIO for this task. The NIO has tied up the National Environmental Engineering Institute (NEERI), Nagpur and CSIR laboratory to conduct environment impact assessment over land through which the proposed channel passes. The Indian Institute of Management, Bangalore (IIM-B) will carry out cost-benefit analysis. The project costing Rs 9.45 crore (over US$ 2 million) and scheduled to be completed in 18 months is being led by Dr Sanil Kumar of NIO, Goa. The Regional Centre of NIO at Kochi will be associated with the project which involves extensive year-round environmental data collection in the Gulf of Mannar, Palk Bay, Adam