The Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowment Department has prepared an estimate for Rs. 1.77 crore for renovating Sri Akilandeswari – Jambukeswarar temple in Tiruvanaikovil, an important Saivite shrines denoting water among the five elements of the universe.
The work, among other things, included maintenance of ‘Karthigai gopuram’ at an estimate of Rs. 40.50 lakh; west rajagopouram at an estimate of Rs. 46.50 lakh; maintenance and repair works on the ceiling in the first and second praharams besides the ceiling of the presiding deity;
The department has planned an estimate for renovating the Sundarapandian gopuram at an estimate of Rs. 29 lakh; and the Arya Bhattal gopuram at an expenditure of Rs. 20.90 lakh.
The temple has nine ‘gopurams’ and the work would be executed with the support of donors, official sources told The Hindu on Wednesday.
Four schemesIn addition to the above 11 schemes, the Tourism and the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowment Departments would take up four major works at an expenditure of Rs. 64.46 lakh — including Rs. 56.58 lakh by the Tourism Department and the balance Rs. 7.87 lakh by the HR and CE department.
The ‘Adi Pooram’ tank would be beautified at an outlay of Rs. 11.20 lakh; and the rest room for devotees would be constructed an outlay of Rs. 22.25 lakh. Bathroom and toilet block would be constructed at an expenditure of Rs. 10.10 lakh and a reception counter would come up at an expenditure of Rs.20.90 lakh.
Meanwhile, work on the renovation of the 1,000-pillar mandapam at the temple has been in full swing. “We have taken care to restore the originality,” say the official sources. Deposit of soot and ageing of the rock have resulted in the discolouring of the pillars.
