Chennai, July 28 The NASA has stated in an e-mail that the series sand bars known as Adams Bridge is nothing but natural rock-like formations. This has put the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) in a tight spot as it had objected to demolition of Ramar Bridge, which they believe was constructed by Lord Hanuman and his Monkey's Army to help Lord Ram and others to cross over to Sri Lanka to retrieve Sita, held captive by Ravana.
The fact that the series of sand bars beneath the sea between India and Sri Lanka that form a rock-like formation - known as Adams Bridge - is a natural phenomenon negates it being man made. This was stated by CEO and managing director of Sethusamudram Corporation Ltd (SCL) N. K. Raghupathy today.
The VHP, which is opposed to the Sethusamudram project, had been using NASA's satellite pictures to prove that it was indeed the 'Ram Setu' or the bridge that Lord Rama built.
An official of the SCL, which is dredging Adams Bridge as part of the Sethusamudram ship canal project off the Tamil Nadu coast, had written to NASA, seeking clarifications in this regard.
In a reply through e-mail, NASA's Johnson Space Centre stated: "The chain of small islets connecting India and Sri Lanka are real geographical features that have been mapped for centuries. Chains of islands form from a variety of natural geological processes, and their occurrence is not evidence of any human activity."
Some Hindu outfits have been objecting to the dredging of Palk Bay.
Raghupathy said the aeronautical agency's information confirmed the argument that Adams Bridge was a natural formation.
He said he was just informing the media about NASA's e-mail and would prefer not to comment on the Ram Setu campaign as the matter was pending before the Supreme Court.
N. Ganesan
Note from S.balasubramani B+
very soon Dr.sila tripathi, Adiyaman,jayakumar and myself going to visit Sethu samuduram project area for archealoical studies on kadal konda thennadu with the permission from tamilnadu government . Is any one intrested to join with ua during our studies on sea
Dr. Sila Tripati (from Orissa, the famous indian diver) Marine Archaeology Centre National Institute of Oceanography Dona Paula, Goa 403 004 (India)
What is the purpose of this mail? It is highly one sided; or is it an invitation to open a debate on the Ramsethu issue? It is an emotive issue, has loads of referneces from Tamil and other language literature, supported by a very strong faith system, and virtually no study by the by the government controlled bodies like ASI. Do we expect the team of experts and interested invitees to visit the site, study and submit a report in a short span of a few days? I smell something fishy here.
NASA has also clarified that they have not done any study of Sethu or in the business of geological study. Selective quoting from NASA mails is not a desirable practice.
The purpose of this mail not exactly on ramars pallam.
please understood the concept.
since beginning we are having lot of litrertures on kadal konda thennadu, which all most start from poompughar to kanyakumari. recent IRSA ( indian remote sencing Agencies) studies on the particular area reveals that metal objects and ship wrakeges are traced through geo mapping.
for that, the proposed study going to be done along with the project team of sethu samudram project.
Please think positively for utilising the situation.
As every one knows ramar sethu issue is a burning one.
But this is first time culture department ready to extensive field survey for the 300 n/miles distance prospecting on metal objects and ship wrackages.12 spots ( sea Mounds) are allready identified
my purpose is to use the situation for finding kadal konda thennadu.
purely sediments and slits are in between poompughar to kanyakumari areas.
please think for probing in to missing links of our history. being a part of PS group , want to share the news with you all.
I am going to be one of the member in the big team.
Then the personal mail from Ganesan and nasa's observations are irrelevant to the studies you have undertaken; then, why it was included? Only the role of Sethu samudram project team in this study makes it a bit suspicious. Well, we have to wait; only time can tell. Thanks for the clarification.
I hope and pray that your study is successful and reveals data to support the theories.
I am sorry, Mr. Balasubramani, I don't see any connection with your original posting and this clarification. Let us leave it at that. Thanks for the effort.
Only individual initiatives do justice to missions such as this. Leave it to the government and political agendas will take over. Let us wish the team the very best.