No study to prove bridge between India and Lanka

New Delhi, Mar 6: The government today said there were no archaeological studies that revealed the existence of a Ram Sethu (bridge) between India and Sri Lanka.

In a written reply in the Rajya Sabha, Culture and Tourism Minister Ambika Soni said a NASA satellite picture showed the existence of a stretch of land bridge in the Palk Strait between India and Sri Lanka.

Replying to another query, she said the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) carried out conservation of certain portions of Angkor Vat temple in Cambodia during the years 1986 to 1993, but later, agencies from other countries were also associated with scientific studies and conservation of the world famous temple.

The Cambodian government had requested India's cooperation in conservation and restoration of Ta Prohm temple.

The External Affairs Ministry has entrusted this project to the ASI, which is to be executed in ten years at an estimated cost of Rs 19.57 crore.

''The work on this project has commenced from January 2004. The ASI has completed documentation of the temple and carried out detailed scientific investigations,'' she said, adding that the restoration works were in progress.

UNI