Odisha Review June - 2012

Rama Setu a bridge built by Lord Rama

Om Prakash

On 12th May 2007, an International seminar on that reason, it should be protected. It is very clear
scientific and security aspects of Sethu Samudram that it is an effort to deny our history. Lord Ram
Channel Project (SSCP) was held in Chennai. was not a myth. He was a reality. Unless this fact
Several scholars, Geologist, Marine is openly admitted the young women and men of
Archaeologists and Social activists took part and India will not have the link that gives them the
expressed their concern and apprehension about ability to see themselves as equal of any other
the impending disasters, which will happen if the people and as the generation that would restore
proposed project goes underway. Excerpts of the India to greatness. Lord Ram is not Hindu icon;
Experts’ opinion are given below: He is an Indian hero and glimmer.

According to S. Badrinarayanan, Director According to J. Balakrishnan, Capt (Retd),

(Retd), Geological Survey of India, formerly, Indian Navy, “The Indian Meteorological
Coordinator, Survey Division, National Institute Department has assigned the Palk Bay area as a
of Ocean Technology, “It is a well known fact ‘High Risk Area’ for cyclonic activity. The cyclone
that coral reefs can only form in clean and season in the Bay of Bengal is generally between
unpolluted water and these being marine months of October to January. It is interesting to
organisms require firm and compact formation as note that the IMD’s records from 1891-2001,
foundation. Corals grow only in hard rocks. The states that of the 452 cyclones that hit the Indian
presence of loose marine sands below these coastline, 256 were on the East coast. We
clearly indicates that these are not natural and are mariners in a lighter vein, refer to the Tamil Nadu
transported. Unless somebody has transported coast between Rameswaram and Cuddalore as
and dumped them these could not have come the ‘cyclone coast.’
there. This is an ancient causeway and an
engineering marvel”. According Dr. S.R. Rao, Former Advisor
Marine Archaeology Center, National Institute of
According to Prof. M.D. Nalapat, Oceanography, Founder of Marine Archaeology
Professor of Geo Politics, Manipal University and Society of India, “It is no less important than
former Editor of the Times of India, “The Swami Vivekananda Rock where a memorial is
importance of Ram Setu is that which establishes built, we found at Dwarka a natural rock was
the clear cultural links with the rest of India, for dressed suitably as a wharf for berthing ships

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about 3600 years ago. Similarly rock connecting survey has brought out very clearly that turbidity,
Mannar and Rameswaram must have been used which would result from such activities would
by piling up rubble manually on it to enable the drastically reduce the productivity in the area and
vanaras to reach Srilanka. For the ancient marine thus of the fish population. Many of the species in
engineers who could build a tidal dock at lethal in this region would face extinction. Similarly the
2300 B.C. and modify a ridge for berthing ships corals would also be destroyed. Excessive inputs
at dwaraka, the piling up of stones on the so of sediments can destroy coral reefs by
called Adam’s bridge for a army to reach Lanka smothering, reducing the light availability and
was an easy task. Hence both from marine potentially reducing coral photosynthesis. Once
archaeological and traditional points of view Ram the material is dredged, the next important question
Setu deserves to be declared as an underwater is the dumping site. It is suggested that the sites
world heritage site. for dumping would be over Pampan Island
between Rameswaram and Dhansukodi and in
According to Prof. C.S. Player, Executive the Bay of Bengal. In case of Adam’s Bridge is
Director, Centre for Marine Analytical Reference broken making wider passage, it is feared that
and Standards, Trivandruam, “The Gulf of the waves coming into the Palk Bay, would be
Manner and the Palk Bay form a backwater funneled through this passage. The funneling
system. The Adam’s bridge acts as a barrier to process would increase the intensity of the waves.
flow of water. In the area, a complex ecosystem Further increase would take place due to the
exists. A factor for serious consideration is the waves propagating from south of Sri Lanka. Thus,
fact that the Palk Bay is a sedimentation sink with if these waves of higher intensity were to hit the
high deposition rate, various sedimentation rates Kerala coast, the devastation would be
have been reported, depending on the area catastrophic. The funneling effect and the
studied. The EIA report of NEERI selectively destruction it can cause are noted to a certain
takes a convenient value for the Sedimentation extent at Valiazhekal on the Kerala Coast.
rate which does not reflect the true picture. Even
accepting the NEERI report, around 85 million According to Justice Parvatha Rao, former
m3 of material has to be dredged (20 km of Judge, Andhra Pradesh High Court, “We are duty
dredging at Adams Bridge and 54.2 km in the bound to preserve what has been given to us by
Bay of Bengal). In addition, for the maintenance our ancients i.e. heritage. It is the duty of the state
of the canal, material of 0.1 million cubic meters to protect and preserve it. I am not able to
has to be removed annually for the Adam’s Bridge understand why we have waited so long for this.
Legal one. This is excluding the Bay of Bengal The state dares because we are silent. Just like
leg for which no value has been reported. Due to the Tehri Dam case the Supreme Court should
dredging, the bottom flora and fauna would be appoint a committee to get the fact”
destroyed. Doubts have also been expressed
about the nature of sea bed in this area. It is feared According to Justice K.T. Thomas, former
that with depth some places would be rocky Judge of Supreme Court, “In projects like this,
which would call for blasting. The damage to decision are to be based not only on a study of
marine life by such underwater blasting can be geological implications; the religious sentiments of
imagined. The impact of dredging and dumping the people are also to be taken into account. The
on the marine life has not been assessed. Literature sentiments of the people of India must be

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honoured and there exists a tradition in this land The dredging and opening of the Adam's
of honouring religious sentiments. So it is my Bridge in all likelihood may cause the sediments
definite opinion that Rama Sethu must not be and turbulent tide to center the tranquil Gulf of
broken” Manner and choke and destroy the delicate coral
island. As an alternative dredging in the Pamban
According to Justice V.R. Krishna Iyer, or nearby areas and by passing the Adam's Bridge
former Judge of Supreme Court, “Our nation will could be favorably considered like other inter sea
be weaker and may suffer new dangers with canal (Panama Canal) locks could be provided
American presence in the Setu Samudram waters both in the Palk Bay side and Gulf of Manner
by doing what for centuries has never been side so that such calamities could be prevented.
considered necessary or feasible or in any manner This should be done, in addition to incorporating
advantageous to the people of India. The choice adequate protective measures along the coastline
of a channel alignment for SSCP should be done to cope with another tsunami on the pattern of
only after a detailed multi-disciplinary evaluation high-walls constructed along the coastline areas
of the impact of tsunami of the type which struck of Japan, as may be seen from the following
the Indian coastline. Rama Setu reduced the report.
impact of the tsunami. If the work is continued on
the present alignment, an enormous energy of the Textual evidences for Rama Setu or Setu
next tsunami will be absorbed through this channel Bandha
and result in the destruction of Kerala and
significant parts of Tamil Nadu coastline. The Apart from the Ramayan which has
PMO has raised 16 objections, including the emphatic references to the construction of Setu
observations of tsunami expert Prof Tad S. Bandha in 85 slokas in a separate sarga in
Murthy of Canada who has been engaged by Yuddha Kanda, Mahabharata also refers to the
India to set up tsunami-warning system. There is continued protection of Nala Sethu following the
the issue of thorium and other rich mineral deposits command of Sri Rama. Kalidasa’s Raghuvamsa
close to the Ram Setu in Kerala sands. The project also refers to the Setu of mountains. So does
will have a profound impact on the country’s Skanda Purana , Vishnu Purana, Angi Purana,
nuclear programme according to the website of Brahma Purana refer to the construction of Rama
Bhabha Atomic Research Centre. Setu.

Re-Design of Setusamudram Canal Project The evidences - textual, epigraphic,

scientific marine-archaeological explorations
There are other feasible alternatives which document Rama Setu or, Setu Bandha as an
will not affect either the sentiments of the people ancient monument. A channel linking Tuticorin
or the environment. The following conclusion in Port with Haldia can be designed without
the paper presented by Dr. S.Badrinarayanan damaging this monument which is an object of
should compel a re-design of the channel passage national importance, indeed, a world heritage site
project into a land-based canal project on the with Ramayana episodes including the
lines of the Panama canal with adequate protective construction of Setu Bandha by Nala venerated
measures to maintain the relatively clamor waters in many Ramayanas in many parts of the world.
in Gulf of Manner. Development imperative or abhyudayam can co-

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exist with protection of monuments, places and another tsunami takes place. The large scale
objects of national and international importance. Thorium deposits in the coastal area will be
Let us hope that Government of India will see it washed away with the result that our nuclear
fit to realign the Setusamudram Channel to avoid potentialities will be radically destroyed. The
impacting on Rama Setu, the heritage which current plan does not take into fact the possibility
should be immediately declared as a protected of alternate routes which will be free from the
monument under the AMASR Act-1958. This is above said undesirable consequences.
a solemn duty of all states of India.
The persistence with which the dredging
Conclusion activities are being carried out in spite of well
informed and well-intentioned criticism by eminent
The proposed project will destroy, the most people gives rise to suspicion that there may be
ancient Hindu relic of Heritage, the RAMA ulterior motives to entire project. Hence the
SETU, linking Sri Lanka and Rameshwaram, concerned authorities should postpone the current
traditionally believed by all Hindus to have been activities and explore other available alternatives.
built by LORD SRI RAMA and hence accepted It also calls upon the people in general to jointly
to be a matter of National Pride. save the Setu Bandha or Rama Setu. The project
At a time when the whole world is is deliberately designed to destroy the oldest
becoming more and more aware of the need for Hindu relic and heritage, the ancient Rama Setu
preserving their ancient heritage and even, the built by Lord Rama. At last I understand that this
project will not bring any economic advantage to
UNESCO is liberally funding the preservation of
India and was never wanted by the masses or by
such heritage sites, it is inconceivable, even
sacrilegious for India to destroy the World’s most any of the World’s shippers. So in the greater
ancient heritage by a willful act of wanton interest of the country’s security the project should
destruction. The project will have very serious be abandoned forthwith.
consequence on the security of the country. It will
also throw open India’s National waters for
International Navigation. The project will create
a catastrophic situation to the coastal regions, if Om Prakash, Qrs No: E/208, Unit-8, Bhubaneswar-12.

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