Dismissing environmental concerns and acting under secrecy, India started the destruction of an ancient crossway between India and Sri Lanka called the Adam's Bridge but believed to have been constructed by God-King Rama to facilitate the Sethusamudram Project. Federal Minister of for Shipping T.R. Baalu inaugurated the dredging operation near the International Maritime Boundary aboard a hovercraft off the coast of Rameshwaram.
Employing the Cutter Suction Dredger (CSD) Aquarius which can dredge approximately 30,000 cubic meters a day, India hopes to create a navigation channel of nearly 167 kilometers in the Palk Straits between a 54-kilometer dredged channel at Kodikarai also known as Point Calimere in the North and a 35-kilometer Adam's Bridge are off Rameshwaram. Hindus believe that the embankment was built by God-King Rama to move his troops to Sri Lanka and in the process stopped the waves at Rameshwaram. Even today, the sea is calm at Rameshwaram.
Some geographers believe that the reason for the calm at Rameshwaram is because of the so-called Adam's bridge and environmental groups warned of great havoc if the bridge was breached. Showing a remarkable lack of understanding of environmental issues, Baalu dismissed these warning saying that "not a blade of grass" grows or will be harmed and claims that leading environmental institutes will study the air, noise, and surface aspects of dredging and dumping but refused to disclose any studies that were already conducted. He also dismisses any connection with the death of over 6 whales and assorted marine life in the region by pointing out that 39 dolphins and a whale in 1982 and 46 dolphins in 1999 had died in this area much before the project was begun. It is not know if studies were done to simulate the effects of a tsunami in this region. Rameshwaram was not affected by the 2004 tsunami and many believe that this is due to the Adam's Bridge.