04-15-2007, 09:47 PM
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin--><b>Ramar Sethu: Swamy Joins Protest</b>
Madurai, April 15: Janata Party president Subramanian Swamy today claimed to have sent fresh evidence on Ramar Sethu (Adams Bridge) to President A P J Abdul Kalam, revealing that it was not a natural geological formation, but a construction for which shoal stones were placed to create the causeway.
Speaking to reporters here, he said the Department of Earth Sciences' report on the geological and geophysical survey of Ramar Sethu revealed that coral formations hardly occur one to 2.5 metres in length and on loose marine sand.
Swamy, quoting from the report, said most of these coral rock pieces seemed to be rounded pebbles of corals. This appears to show that these coral rock pieces and pebbles have been transported and placed in these areas.
"Since the calcareous sandstones and coral are less dense than normal hard rock and quite compact, these were probably used by the ancients to form a connecting link to Sri Lanka on the higher elevations of the Adams bridge ridge and this analogous to modern day causeway."
The bridge finds mention in the manual of the Madras Presidency administration, wherein it is stated that 'Adams bridge/Ramar Sethu linked Ceylon with India until 1480 when a storm broke out, causing minor breach through rocks.'
Swamy said no party was opposed to the building of the Sethu Samudram Canal Project, but the alignment had to be changed.
He alleged that the present alignment has been chosen under international and US pressure. "Palk Straits is fully in Indian and Sri Lankan territorial waters. By digging the SSCP, it will become international waters. We cannot claim exclusive rights and any vessels can come."
He said though he wanted to share the evidence with the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister, he was declined the appointment. "There is no doubt that it is a heritage and a historic site and it should be protected as a national monument."
Swamy said computer simulation had shown that some parts of Tamil Nadu and Kerala had been protected by the Ramar Sethu barrier when the tsunami struck the Tamil Nadu coast in December 2004. "A post-tsunami study should also be carried out on the advantages of Ramar Sethu and it should not be disturbed," he added.
He charged Chief Minister M Karunanidhi with adopting double standards so far as beliefs are concerned. When so much of money was spent to develop Poompuhar Kottam, (place near Karaikal where Kannagi, the goddess of chastity, lived) into a tourist spot, was it also not the government's duty to protect Ramar Sethu, which finds mention in ancient Tamil literature, he asked.
He said he would take part in the VHP demonstration at Rameswaram on April 18 to protest against the move to 'damage' the Ramar Sethu bridge. (Agencies)
Published: Sunday, April 15, 2007
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Madurai, April 15: Janata Party president Subramanian Swamy today claimed to have sent fresh evidence on Ramar Sethu (Adams Bridge) to President A P J Abdul Kalam, revealing that it was not a natural geological formation, but a construction for which shoal stones were placed to create the causeway.
Speaking to reporters here, he said the Department of Earth Sciences' report on the geological and geophysical survey of Ramar Sethu revealed that coral formations hardly occur one to 2.5 metres in length and on loose marine sand.
Swamy, quoting from the report, said most of these coral rock pieces seemed to be rounded pebbles of corals. This appears to show that these coral rock pieces and pebbles have been transported and placed in these areas.
"Since the calcareous sandstones and coral are less dense than normal hard rock and quite compact, these were probably used by the ancients to form a connecting link to Sri Lanka on the higher elevations of the Adams bridge ridge and this analogous to modern day causeway."
The bridge finds mention in the manual of the Madras Presidency administration, wherein it is stated that 'Adams bridge/Ramar Sethu linked Ceylon with India until 1480 when a storm broke out, causing minor breach through rocks.'
Swamy said no party was opposed to the building of the Sethu Samudram Canal Project, but the alignment had to be changed.
He alleged that the present alignment has been chosen under international and US pressure. "Palk Straits is fully in Indian and Sri Lankan territorial waters. By digging the SSCP, it will become international waters. We cannot claim exclusive rights and any vessels can come."
He said though he wanted to share the evidence with the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister, he was declined the appointment. "There is no doubt that it is a heritage and a historic site and it should be protected as a national monument."
Swamy said computer simulation had shown that some parts of Tamil Nadu and Kerala had been protected by the Ramar Sethu barrier when the tsunami struck the Tamil Nadu coast in December 2004. "A post-tsunami study should also be carried out on the advantages of Ramar Sethu and it should not be disturbed," he added.
He charged Chief Minister M Karunanidhi with adopting double standards so far as beliefs are concerned. When so much of money was spent to develop Poompuhar Kottam, (place near Karaikal where Kannagi, the goddess of chastity, lived) into a tourist spot, was it also not the government's duty to protect Ramar Sethu, which finds mention in ancient Tamil literature, he asked.
He said he would take part in the VHP demonstration at Rameswaram on April 18 to protest against the move to 'damage' the Ramar Sethu bridge. (Agencies)
Published: Sunday, April 15, 2007
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