The document discusses various aspects of the proposed Sethusamudram shipping canal project in India, including its potential impacts on national sovereignty, coastal livelihoods, and archaeological evidence of the Rama Setu land bridge. Specifically, it notes that dredging the canal could damage the proven tsunami protector of Rama Setu and negatively impact coastal communities through restrictions on fishing waters. It also provides archaeological and textual evidence supporting the existence of Rama Setu.

2. Location map. Inset: bathymetry map of the Gulf of Mannar (reproduced from Murty et al., 1994) http://www.Setusamudram.in/htmdocs/Articles/cp_rajendran_2.htm

3. Setusamudram Channel Passage – current alignment

5. Computer simulation: Ram Sethu saved coastline from tsunami on Dec. 26, 2004 1. Evidences for Rama Setu 2. Preparedness for next tsunami 3. Impact on coastal life and national sovereignty

8. Dhanushkodi to Talaimannar Pamban cantilever bridge NASA image: Adam’s bridge

9. Suggestio falsi, suppressio veri : Ambika Soni New Delhi, Mar 06, 2007: Government on Tuesday said there are no archaeological studies that reveal the existence of a Ram Setu bridge between India and Sri Lanka. However, a NASA satellite picture has shown the existence of a stretch of land bridge in the Palk Strait between the countries, Minister of Tourism and Culture Ambika Soni said in a written reply to the Rajya Sabha today. She informed the house that as there are no archaeological studies to confirm the fact, the government was not planning to take any preservation initiative in this direction. ttp://zeenews.com/articles.asp?aid =358346&sid=NAT

12. Malabar Bowen map (1747) drawn by Netherlands shows Ramarcoil I (that is, Rama temple).

14. Religious and cultural sites, 8th-12th centuries http://dsal.uchicago.edu/reference/schwartzberg/pager.html?object =071 Schwartzberg Atlas , p. 34.

15. Islamic expansion and changing Western views of South Asia, 7th-12th centuries http://dsal.uchicago.edu/reference/schwartzberg/pager.html?object =070 Schwartzberg Atlas , v. , p. 33.

16. Puranic India (Bharata) http://dsal.uchicago.edu/reference/schwartzberg/pager.html?object =064 Schwartzberg Atlas , v. , p. 27.

17. India of the Vedas and the Epics http://dsal.uchicago.edu/reference/schwartzberg/pager.html?object =050 Schwartzberg Atlas , v. , p. 13.

24. New Shipping Canal route damages Rama Setu Status: 12 April 2007: About 1.4 % dredging done in the Rama Sethu area (35.05 kms.) Dhanushkodi Thalaimannar ~3.5 m Current Sea Level ~ 12 m ~300 m hole Sea levels change; and were 130 m lower about 18,000 years ago, that is, the Setu would have been used to link Dhanushkodi and Talaimannar ~ 30 kms Rama Sethu – shoal remains

27. Serious consequences of Route 6, suddenly chosen Route 6, cutting through Rama Setu, ignores other expert committee-recommended options http://sethusamudram.gov.i n

28. 8,500 year-old S’ankha industry, Gulf of Mannar Wide bangle made from a single conch shell and carved with a chevron motif, Harappa; marine shell, Turbinella pyrum (After Fig. 7.44, Kenoyer, 1998) National Museum, Karachi. 54.3554. HM 13828. Seven shell bangles from burial of an elderly woman, Harappa; worn on the left arm; three on the upper arm and four on the forearm; 6.3 X 5.7 cm to 8x9 cm marine shell, Turbinella pyrum (After Fig. 7.43, Kenoyer, 1998) Harappa museum. H87-635 to 637; 676 to 679.

31. Thorium/titanium placer deposits due to churning action of ocean currents

32. Next tsunami through channel route will destroy Kerala and Tamilnadu coastline: tsunami energy will funnel through as Ram Setu barrier is dented. This serious consequence should be evaluated by a multi-disciplinary team as recommended by Rameswaram Judge. Be prepared for a probable next tsunami. Geoscientific investigations on the active convergence zone between the east Eurasian and Indo-Australian Plates along Indonesia (GINCO I) FSSONNE cruise SO-137 Fault-lines and earthquake zones http://www.bgr.de/b322/grafik/ginco_fig1_k.png

33. Tsunami effect: 2,60,000 lives lost Destruction of Aceh island, damage in beaches north of Chennai and Nagapattinam Sea-bed has risen by about 200 m. 2/3 of the aquatic life and corals devastated in the Biosphere Reserve/Marine National Parks

36. Ancient Setu coins of Jaffna, 13 th century and Parantaka Chola copper plate (10 th century) (Nagaswamy R. 1979. Thiruttani and Velanjeri Copper Plates . State Dept. Of Archaeology, Tamilnadu. Madras. See: L’Hernault F. 1978. L’Iconographie de Subrahmanya au Tamilnad , Institut Francais d’ Indologie. Pondichery, p.111, ph. 63.) The copper plates indicate that Aparajitavarman went to Setutirtha. Setupati coinage, 16 th and 17 th century Obverse: Sri Ganapati, seated.Reverse, in Tamil, Se-Tu-Pa-(Ti missing).