Ramar bridge: Jaya threatens to take legal action

Chennai, May 2 (UNI) Former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and AIADMK General Secretary J Jayalalithaa today threatened to take legal action if the Congress-led UPA Government at the Centre did not stop the ''destruction'' of 'Ramar bridge' (Adams Bridge) during the ongoing dredging work in connection with the Sethusamudram project.

She said in a statement here that President A P J Abdul Kalam and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh should immediately intervene in the matter and stop further damage to the 17,50,000-year-old bridge.

Stating that NASA, through satellite pictures, had confirmed the existence of the age-old bridge, Ms Jayalalithaa said the survey department also confirmed the existence of the bridge.

Even in maps, the dots between Rameshwaram and Dhanushkodi were mentioned as Adams bridge, she said, adding that it was the responsibility of the people of this country to preserve the ''world heritage site'' for posterity.

But unfortunately, the UPA Government and the DMK Government in Tamil Nadu were bent upon destroying the heritage site under the pretext of implementing Sethusamudram project, amid protests by the AIADMK, BJP and other parties, Ms Jayalalithaa alleged.

Flaying Union Shipping Minister T R Baalu for trying to prove NASA incorrect in its finding about the bridge, the AIADMK leader, quoting reports, alleged that the Minister had visited the Saraswati Mahal Library in Thanjavur to destroy evidences pertaining to the bridge. It appeared that Mr Baalu had also threatened the officials in the library and this was an unpardonable act, she added.

UNI