India Push Ship Lane Plan Despite Hindu Protests

India plans to go ahead with a controversial project to carve a shipping channel in seas off its south coast.

India plans to go ahead with a controversial project to carve a shipping channel in seas off its south coast despite protests by religious groups who say it will destroy a mythical bridge of sand made by a Hindu god.

The $560-million Sethusamudram Ship Canal Project will dredge a channel in a narrow strip of sea between India and Sri Lanka, reducing distances and cutting costs for freight traffic.

But religious groups and opposition politicians have called on the government to stop the project, saying it will demolish a bridge of sand linking India and Sri Lanka which was built by Lord Ram, a Hindu god.

Indian shipping minister T.R. Baalu told parliament that the Ram Sethu bridge, also referred to as Adam's Bridge, was not man-made and therefore could not be considered an important religious or cultural heritage.

"As far as the Indian map is considered, there is no Ram Sethu at all. It is purely mythical," said Baalu. "We have never intended to hurt the religious sentiments of any religious community including the Hindus."

Research had shown that the bridge was a series of sand shoals created by sedimentation, he said.

Dredging for the project began in 2005 and the channel -- 12 metres (40 ft) deep, 300 metres (985 ft) wide and almost 90 km (55 miles) long -- will cut through the Ram Sethu bridge and link the Palk Bay with the Gulf of Mannar.

When the project is finished, ships sailing between India's western and eastern coasts will no longer have to go around the south of Sri Lanka, and are expected to save up to 36 hours of sailing time.

The project has also sparked protests by other groups including conservationists and local fishermen who say the dredging will mean dumping sediment in deeper water further out to sea.

This and increased freight traffic will harm marine life and threaten the livelihood of thousands of fishermen in both countries, opponents say.