Villagers oppose move to acquire temple land

Phalgun Krushna Navami

Tiruchi (Tamil Nadu): The move to acquire a portion of the ancient Sri Tharugavaneswarar Temple complex at Tiruparaithurai near Tiruchi and the possible demolition of the temple’s rampart wall for the expansion of Tiruchi-Karur National Highway has met with stiff resistance from the villagers.

A portion of the temple land, considered one of the most ancient in the State, is now sought to be taken over by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) for developing the 80-km stretch between Tiruchi and Karur into two and four-lane highway wherever possible. The narrow highway, for most part, is sandwiched between the Cauvery river and irrigation channels. The highway is to be expanded to a width of 30 metres from the current 13 to 15 metres.

Sources in NHAI confirmed that the alignment of the expanded highway would require the acquisition of the land, as the road is very narrow at this stretch. NHAI has also started marking the areas to be acquired for the highway at various places.

The northern wall of the temple and the 100-pillar mandapam close to it would have to be demolished, if the NHAI went ahead with the proposed alignment.
Villagers have already made a representation to the Collector demanding that they (NHAI) desist from acquiring the land. Classes of Sri Vivekananda Elementary School were also being run at the 100-pillar mandapam of the temple, for want of space.

Authorities of Sri Ramakrishna Tapovanam, which has been playing a major role in the upkeep of the temple, have also expressed concern over the move. The Tapovanam has been serving the people of the village and its surroundings by running schools and vocational training centres for students from the weaker sections.

Tapovanam authorities say that the Tharugavaneswarar Temple is a ‘paadal petra sthalam’ – Tirugnanasambandar, Tirunavukkarasar and Manikkavasagar have composed songs about it.

R. Kalaikkovan, Director, Dr. Rajamanikkanar Centre for Historical Research, says that the temple was built and developed between the 6th and 9th century AD.

Chettinad families have renovated it from time to time and the Tapovanam spent about Rs.40 lakh for its kumbabhishekam in 1998-99. "We want the historic temple and its rampart wall to be spared of any damage," says a representative of the Tapovanam. Villagers say that the NHAI could acquire the lands adjoining Cauvery and spare the temple rampart wall.

But official sources say that the width of the river was the narrowest at this point, which had witnessed overflows during floods. Hence, any possible realignment could be considered only in consultation with the Public Works Department.

Source: hindu.com

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