No manmade structure at Sethusamudram: Baalu

New Delhi, May 9 (UNI) There is no scientific evidence about the existence of any ancient manmade structure in the proposed Sethu Samudram ship channel alignment, Shipping Minister T R Baalu informed the Lok Sabha today.

No bridge, believed to be of the Ramayana period, has been found under sea near Rameshwaram, where the Sethu Samudram project is located, Mr Baalu said in a written reply.

The issue had rocked the Lok Sabha on Monday with the BJP demanding an apology from Mr Baalu for "misleading" the House for stating that the 'Ram Setu' project was sub judice.

The BJP alleges that the government is trying to destroy evidence of the existence of the ancient 'Ram Setu' bridge, linking India and Sri Lanka, by constructing the Sethu Samudram project.

Anticipating PILs from BJP, AIADMK, VHP and Janata Party, the Tuticorin Port Trust and the Sethu Samudram Corporation Limited (SSCL) filed caveats in Madras High Court and the City Civil Court in Chennai yesterday.

The caveats mandate the courts concerned to hear the Centre before passing any interim orders relating to the project in favour of the petitioners.

The Rs 2,427 crore project envisages dredging of 167 km channel along the Palk Straits, Palk Bay and Adam's Bridge to connect the Bay of Bengal and Gulf of Mannar between India and Sri Lanka, in a bid to reduce the travel time of ships to and from the Arabian Sea.

UNI