Underwater study of Ram Setu by year end

NEW DELHI: An underwater archaeological study of the Ram Setu is likely to take off by year end with Indian archaeological experts scheduled to discuss the modalities of the project with their Sri Lankan counterparts in the coming week.

The bridge runs from Pamban Island near Rameshwaram in India to Mannar Island off the northern coast of Sri Lanka in the Indian Ocean.

“We will meet Sri Lankan authorities during ICOMOS (International Council of Monu- ments and Sites) in Tanzania, from October 2 to 5, to discuss the project.

We need to talk to Sri Lankan authorities as half of the 30-km stretch is in their waters,” said Prof Alok Tripathi, the director of Assam University’s Centre for Archaeology and Museology.

The planned archaeological study will be a first of its kind project as no underwater exploration has so far been done to find out whether Ram Setu or the Adam’s Bridge is a myth or an artificial phenomenon.

The bridge between the coasts of Tamil Nadu and Sri Lanka has been at the centre of controversy since the Sethusamudram shipping canal project was planned by the previous United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government, requiring dredging in the area.

In 2008, the UPA government had told the Supreme Court that there was no historical and scientific evidence to establish the existence of Lord Rama or the other characters of the Ramayana.

The Supreme Court had restrained the Centre from damaging the Ram Setu while permitting it to continue with the dredging. After the Naren- dra-Modi NDA government came to power, it maintained that it would respect the “feelings of the people” and wouldn’t demolish the Ram Setu. The matter is presently subjudice.

Tripathi clarified that their scheduled project had nothing to do with the court matter.

“The work on the project is likely to start sometime in December as it rains in Tamil Nadu during October and November and it is not possible to start work then.

We expect to get necessary approvals from Indian as well as Sri Lankan authorities by then,” Tripathi told Hindustan Times.