Editing Adam's Bridge (section)

=== Sethusamudram Shipping Canal Project ===
{{Main|Sethusamudram Shipping Canal Project}}
[[File:Alternative Alignments.png|thumb|left|upright=1.5|Opposition parties demanded implementation of the Sethusamudram canal project using one of the alternative alignments considered earlier by the government, without damaging the structure of Adam's Bridge.]]

The [[government of India]] constituted nine committees before independence, and five committees since then, to suggest alignments for a Sethusamudram canal project. Most of them suggested land-based passages across Rameswaram island, and none recommended alignment across Adam's Bridge.<ref>[http://sethusamudram.gov.in/History.asp Sethusamudram Corporation Limited–History] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071014012322/http://sethusamudram.gov.in/History.asp |date=14 October 2007 }}</ref> The Sethusamudram project committee in 1956 also strongly recommended to the Union government to use land passages instead of cutting Adam's Bridge because of the several advantages of land passage.<ref>{{cite news| title= Use land based channel and do not cut through Adam bridge:Sethu samudram project committee report to Union Government| url= http://www.india-forum.com/articles/10327/1/Rama-Setu-and-setusamudram-channel-conspiracy| date= 30 September 2007| access-date= 15 October 2007| quote= ""In these circumstances we have no doubt, whatever that the junction between the two sea should be effected by a Canal; and the idea of cutting a passage in the sea through Adam's Bridge should be abandoned."| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20071013125126/http://www.india-forum.com/articles/10327/1/Rama-Setu-and-setusamudram-channel-conspiracy| archive-date= 13 October 2007| url-status= dead| df= dmy-all}}</ref>

In 2005, the government of India approved a multi-million dollar [[Sethusamudram Shipping Canal Project]]. This project aims to create a ship channel across the [[Palk Strait]] by dredging the shallow ocean floor near [[Dhanushkodi]]. The channel is expected to cut over {{cvt|400|km}} (nearly 30 hours of shipping time) off the voyage around the island of [[Sri Lanka]]. This proposed channel's current alignment requires dredging through Adam's Bridge.

Indian political parties including the [[Bharatiya Janata Party]] (BJP), [[All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam]] (AIADMK), [[Rashtriya Janata Dal]] (RJD), [[Janata Dal (Secular)]] (JD(S)) and some [[Hindu]] organisations oppose dredging through the shoal on religious grounds. The contention is that Adam's Bridge is identified popularly as the causeway described in the [[Ramayana]]. The political parties and organisations suggest alternate alignment for the channel that avoids damage to Adam's Bridge.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.newkerala.com/oct.php?action=fullnews&id=3715|title=Ram Setu a matter of faith, needs to be protected: Lalu|work=NewKerela.com|date = 21 September 2007|access-date=24 September 2007}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://mangalorean.com/news.php?newstype=local&newsid=53581 |title=Rama is 'divine personality' says Gowda |work=MangaoreNews.com |date=22 September 2007 |access-date=24 September 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080421223657/http://mangalorean.com/news.php?newstype=local&newsid=53581 |archive-date=21 April 2008 }}</ref> The then state and central governments opposed such changes, with the Union Shipping Minister T. R Baalu, who belongs to the [[Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam]] and a strong supporter of the project maintaining that the current proposal was economically viable and environmentally sustainable and that there were no other alternatives.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.indianexpress.com/story/218827.html |title=IndianExpress.com–Sethu: DMK chief sticks to his stand |access-date=8 February 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080421144230/http://www.indianexpress.com/story/218827.html |archive-date=21 April 2008 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.newkerala.com/oct.php?action=fullnews&id=5789|title=Latest India News @ NewKerala.Com, India}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.indianexpress.com/sunday/story/220089.html |title=indianexpress.com |access-date=8 February 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080421144411/http://www.indianexpress.com/sunday/story/220089.html |archive-date=21 April 2008 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

Opposition to dredging through this causeway also stems from concerns over its impact on the area's ecology and marine wealth, potential loss of [[thorium]] deposits in the area and increased risk of damage due to [[tsunami]]s.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/holnus/004200708051654.htm|title= Thorium reserves to be disturbed if Ramar Sethu is destroyed|work = [[The Hindu]]|date = 5 August 2007|access-date=24 September 2007| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20071012213012/http://hindu.com/thehindu/holnus/004200708051654.htm| archive-date= 12 October 2007 | url-status= live}}</ref> Some organisations oppose this project on economic and environmental grounds and claim that proper scientific studies were not conducted before undertaking this project.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.rediff.com/news/2005/jul/19inter.htm|title=The Sethusamudram canal project|website=www.rediff.com}}</ref>