News Tamil Nadu

Construction Activity To Build Shops Close To Tiruvannamalai Arunachaleswarar Temple Raises Concerns

November 2, 2023
The Commune

In an official document released by the Hindu Religious & Charitable Endowments (HR&CE) department, a significant development has been disclosed concerning the Arulmigu Arunachaleswarar Temple located in Tiruvannamalai District in Tamil Nadu. The HR&CE department has issued an administrative permission order for the construction of shops on a section of land owned by the temple in front of the East Gopuram. This decision has garnered attention and raises questions regarding its implications for the heritage and sanctity of the temple.

The order, dated 14 September 2023, references various government notifications and correspondences, shedding light on the background and context of this decision. It is noteworthy that the Minister for Hindu Religious Endowments Department, Sekar Babu, announced in the Legislative Assembly on 19 April 2023 during discussions on the grant demand for the fiscal year 2023-2024. This announcement pertained to “Notification No:223,” which outlined plans for constructing shops at an estimated cost of ₹5.99 crores in the area in front of the Rajagopuram, a part of the land owned by the Arunachaleswarar Temple.

The documents further highlight the status of the temple as an “Ancient Temple” listed under Section 46(II) of the Act and its current management by the Temple Associate Commissioner or Acting Officer. The request for administrative permission for the construction of shops and the associated cost calculations were made by the Department of Charitable Appraisal Engineers and funded by the Public Works Department. This entire endeavour was presented as a “Deposit Work.”

Of particular importance, the Charity Commissioner had solicited the government’s attention to this matter. After thorough consideration, the GO reads that the government accepted the proposal, thereby granting administrative permission to the Commissioner of Hindu Religious Charitable Institutions. This permission allows for the execution of the deposit work through the Public Works Department, involving an estimated sum of ₹6.40,00,000/- (Six Crore and Forty Lacs only). This funding is to be drawn from the temple’s resources and allocated to establish the shops in front of the Rajagopuram, within the precincts of the Arunachaleswarar Temple.

The GO concludes with the official directive issued by the Governor, as conveyed by Manivasan, the Principal Secretary to the Government. The communication indicates the relevant recipients of this order and expresses the government’s commitment to implementing this initiative, subject to the specified financial allocation and permissions.

This decision has sparked considerable discussion and debate, reflecting the intersection of heritage preservation, cultural significance, and economic development.

Temple activist TR Ramesh posted on his X handle that UNESCO had previously raised concerns regarding substantial structural violations at the Sri Arunachaleswarar Temple in Tiruvannamalai, bringing the matter before the Madras High Court. These violations, attributed to the Tamil Nadu Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department, have included the construction of a modern office and two “guest houses” within the confines of this ancient temple, which has drawn criticism for its impact on the temple’s historical and cultural significance. He criticized the HR&CE department’s decision to develop a commercial complex near the temple.

Hindu activist Shefali Vaidya also raised questions about the need for shops to be built close to the temple and that such activity could cause harm to the structure.

The HR&CE department has many a time stepped beyond its limits when it came to generating revenue without taking into consideration the antiquity of a temple or has left temples in the state in an appalling state of neglect.

Subscribe to our channels on Telegram and WhatsApp and get the best stories of the day delivered to you personally.