Declare girivalam path part of heritage Town: Governement of India

NEW DELHI, APRIL 6. The Centre has asked the Supreme Court to direct the Tamil Nadu Government to declare the Tiruvannamalai Arunachaleswara temple girivalam path part of heritage town under the provisions of the proposed Tamil Nadu Heritage Conservation Act.

In an affidavit in the pending case in the apex court, the Centre also sought permission to withdraw the September 2002 notification, issued by the Archaeological Survey of India, declaring the temple, dedicated to Lord Shiva, a national heritage monument.

In response to the court's question raised in a direction issued on January 20 whether the Centre had any other proposal for the protection and conservation of the temple, the Centre said the girivalam route be declared part of heritage town. The Centre wanted all encroachments, unauthorised and illegal constructions along the path cleared forthwith so that the ancient ambience of the site and the open area around the temple and the girivalam path could be preserved.

It was noticed that the `ashta lingas', an integral part of the girivalam, were neglected. "So if the ashta lingas along with the girivalam can be better preserved in all respects, it would go a long way in restoring not only its originality, but also the ancient essence of the concept of girivalam and its associated ashta lingas," the affidavit said.

The case will come up for hearing after five weeks after the State Government and the Tiruvannamalai municipality filed their responses.