The Hindu : Other States / Pondicherry News : Heritage protection panel `needs to be revived'

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Wednesday, Jun 09, 2004

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Heritage protection panel `needs to be revived'

By Our Staff Reporter

PONDICHERRY, JUNE 8. The president of the Pondicherry Historical Society, V. Nallam, has called upon the Union Territory Administration to revive the Commission for Preservation of Monuments that was in existence during the pre-merger days to ensure proper care and maintenance of historical sites.

Releasing two books — `Tirunallar Dharbaranyeswarar temple: A study' and `Tirunallaru Puranam'— written by the former Joint Director of Education, S.S. Mourougessane, here on Monday, Mr. Nallam said an international organisation had shown interest in preserving ancient structures. Its assistance could be sought to ensure that the Tirunallar temple (near Karaikal) was looked after properly. It had also come forward to fund maintenance and rehabilitation of a building in Pondicherry without disturbing its historical features.

The author said quite often the side walls of the outer prakaram in the Tirunallar temple were bein affected during festivals. Mr. Nallam pointed out that the Dharbaranyeswarar temple was so ancient that its historical value should be preserved.

Erection of structures close to the temple was spoiling the sanctity of the temple, he said, recalling how French administrators paid close attention to preserving ancient temples. Boards of trustees were set up for temples during the French regime by electing the members of the Board in a panchayat system. But the temple at Tirunallar was without a Board since the enactment of the Hindu Religious Institutions Act 1972.

The two books were aimed at bringing into focus the full facts and ancient history of the temple.

The former Chief Judge, Krishnamoorthy, the Head of the Department of French in Pondicherry University, R. Krishnamoorthy, the Controller of Examinations in the university, R. Venkataraman, and office-bearers of the Historical Society and the Pondicherry Institute of Dravidology spoke.

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