Ramar Sethu not a man made structure, says EarthWeb

CHENNAI: Earth Web, a division of NASA that hosts astronaut photography of the Earth, has said that the 'Ramar Sethu' or Adams Bridge was not a man made structure and that their occurrence was not evidence of any human activity.

This was in reply to an e-mail sent by the Sethusamudram Corporation on July 26, 2007 to clarify whether it was a man made structure or not.

"Our office supports only astronaut photography of the Earth. The chain of small islets connecting India and Sri Lanka are real geographical features that have been mapped for centuries.

Chains of islands form a variety of natural geological processes and their occurrence is not evidence of any human activity," Earth Web said.

An official of the Sethusamudram Corporation had mailed Earth web on the satellite image of Adams Bridge.

"In India a burning question is going on whether this bridge is man made or not. Religious fundamentalists insist that the bridge was once constructed by human beings in order to invade Sri Lanka long ago. Some say it is not man made and the area is covered by shallow water and the sediments under the water appear like a narrow bridge.

"The third group says that the Bridge is nothing but a peak of a large mountain that has submerged," the Email said and asked for a clarification on the issue.

A copy of the Email was circulated to the media during a press conference addressed by N K Reghupathy, Chairman, Tuticorin Port Trust and Chairman and Managing Director, Sethusamudram Corporation Ltd here on Saturday.