The Hindu : Front Page : Bench seeks report on cracks in temple

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Friday, Nov 24, 2006
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Bench seeks report on cracks in temple

Staff Reporter

MADURAI: The Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court has directed the Joint Commissioner of the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department to file a detailed report on steps taken to repair structural cracks in Sri Meenakshi Sundareswarar Temple here.

A Division Bench said it should be filed within three weeks. The interim orders were passed on a public interest litigation petition seeking a direction to appoint an expert committee consisting of eminent architects, engineers, `stapathis' and members of the Archaeological Survey of India.

S. Muthukumar had filed the petition alleging that the cracks had developed, owing to unscientific methods adopted by authorities while making changes to the original structure of the temple for carrying out various works.

But, in his counter affidavit, the Joint Commissioner denied all the allegations. He said that necessary measures had been taken to protect the structures. Already a committee comprising of professors from the Indian Institute of Technology, Madras, private consultants and a former engineer of the Archaeological Department had been formed to inspect the temple and suggest the mode of repairing the cracks.

He refuted the charge that harmful chemicals were used to paint the walls. Allaying the fear that the temple pillars might get weakened due to heavy vehicular traffic on Chithirai streets, he said that the pillars were strong enough.

On the accusation that the outer walls of the temple were being used as public urinals, he said that the compound wall of the temple had been fenced. He further said that the concrete in the `Golden Lotus' water tank inside the temple had not affected the groundwater level and no heavy equipment was used in the ongoing soil test on the temple premises.

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