Tamil Nadu government allocates fund for excavation at temple

CHENNAI: Tamil Nadu government today allocated a sum of Rs five lakh towards taking up excavation in the famous Sri Aranganthar Temple at Srirangam in Tiruchirappally.

School Education Minister K C Veeraamani, who also holds the Art and Culture, Musueums, Archaelogy portfolio, said that a similar effort in 2013-14 resulted in excavation of some significant statues of elephants and humans and added that a report in this regard was being finalised.

The allocated Rs five lakh will be used to "completely excavate" a statue of a chariot sighted with wheels in the temple premises, he said.

He further announced that an allocation of Rs 10 lakh towards documentation of "rare folk arts" of the state including puppetry and street play. Veeramani proposed another Rs 10 lakh towards imparting training to youth in 100 selected folk arts. This was part of the government's efforts to promote the state's folk arts, he added.