Rama Setu

Adam's Bridge, also called Rama's Bridge (Ram Setu in Hindi) is a chain of limestone shoals, between the islands of Mannar, near northwestern Sri Lanka, and Rameswaram, off the southeastern coast of India. The bridge is 30 miles (48 km) long and separates the Gulf of Mannar (southwest) from the Palk Strait (northeast). Some of the sandbanks are dry and the sea in the area is very shallow, being only 3 ft to 30 ft (1 m to 10 m) deep. This seriously hinders navigation. It was reportedly passable on foot up to the 15th century until storms deepened the channel: temple records seem to say that Rama’s Bridge was complete above sea level until it broke in a cyclone in 1480 AD.

 

A ferry service linking the island and port of Rameswaram in India with Talaimannar in Sri Lanka has been suspended for some time due to the fighting between Sri Lankan government forces and the separatist LTTE

The Pamban Bridge links Rameswaram island with mainland India.

 

RAMA, RAMACHANDRA. [Source: Dowson's Classical Dictionary of Hindu Mythology] Eldest son of Dasaratha, a king of the Solar race, reigning at Ayodhya. This Rama is the seventh incarnation (Avatar) of the god Vishnu, and made his appearance in the world at the end of the Treta or second age. His story is briefly told in the Vana Parva of the Mahabharata, but it is given in full length as the grand subject of the Ramayana.

Rama weds Sita , after which they are forced to exile into the forest.Ravana , the king of Sri Lanka (not at present) , falls for Sita , and kidnaps her.

Rama forges an alliance with Sugriva , and then marches their army to Sri Lanka , via a Bridge .Thus the name Rama Setu .

The name Rama's Bridge originates in Hindu belief. According to the Hindu epic Ramayana (Chapter 66, The Great Causeway [3]), the bridge was constructed at Rama's request by his allies. The bridge was supported on floating sand rocks but the gods were said to have later anchored the rocks to the sea bed, thus creating the present chain of rocky shoals. It was said to have helped Rama to reach Sri Lanka to rescue his wife Sita from the demon king (Asura) called Ravana, who was then the ruler of Lanka.(Wikipedia)

But trouble is afoot when progress and religion clash head to head...

Recently the Government of India has approved a multi-million dollar Sethusamudram Shipping Canal Project that aims to create a ship channel across the Palk Strait. The plan is to dredge the shallow ocean floor near the Dhanushkodi end of Rama's Bridge to create enough leeway allowing ships to pass through the channel instead of having to go around the island of Sri Lanka. It is expected to save nearly 30 hours' shipping time by cutting over 400 km off the voyage. However, efforts to conserve the heritage of the bridge has been initiated under the Ram Karmabhoomi movement; and there is fear that the large amount of dredging needed would damage coral reefs in the area, directly and by stirring up sediment.

While experts fear damage to eco system ,  soothsayers predict the end of the world through a Pralaya (Literally the Great Deluge, which occurs in most mythologies including hindu and christian mythologies)

How is this linked to Indo-Us nuclear talks ?Read this...

http://groups.google.com/group/soc.culture.tamil/browse_thread/thread/a99528d6201559ac/a7357ca7c484fe77

A bit over the top , but not entirely implausible ...