New Delhi: Playing it safe, the Central government on Thursday declined to take any stand in the Supreme Court on the matter whether the ancient Ram Sethu (Adam's Bridge) should be declared a national monument.

Additional Solicitor-General Harin P Raval apprised the apex court bench comprising Justice HL Dattu and Justice AR Dave about the government’s stand.

Several cases have been filed in the Madras High Court and the Supreme Court against the Sethu Samudram project that proposed to dredge the Palk Strait so that shipping is possible between the western and eastern coasts instead of circumventing Sri Lanka.

As part of the project, the Ram Sethu needs to be broken, which has angered the Hindu community that considers it sacred and revere it as the bridge built by Hindu god, Ram, to reach Sri Lanka.