New course for engineers in heritage conservation in TN

The State government has decided to conduct a six-week course on conservation and restoration of monuments for the present set of engineers, who lack the requisite skills. Need for such a course was felt as a large number of restoration and conservation projects had been undertaken by various government departments, especially the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR&CE) department, in the last three years.

Based on the recommendations of the 13th Finance Commission, Rs. 90 crore has been set apart for the renovation of over 200 temples without tampering their heritage value. In the last three years, 183 temples were provided with Rs. 67.50 crore as part of the Finance Commission's grant.

This year, the government has sanctioned Rs. 22.5 crore for 46 temples. Also, using the government's grant and funds, a number of temples had been covered under renovation and restoration. In all, restoration and renovation works are over in respect of 5,400 temples so far.

A major work is on to the ramparts of the Ranganathar temple in Srirangam. The authorities have decided to take up one such work at the Arunchaleswarar temple in Tiruvannamalai.

As for secular monuments, the prominent projects relate to restoration of the Kalas Mahal in Chepauk and the National Art Gallery building in Egmore (both in Chennai).

To be run by the State Archaeology Department, the course, in two batches, will be compulsory to those engineers working with the HR&CE Department. Also, those who are in the Public Works and Highways Departments can participate in the course.

The syllabus for the course has been framed with the help of the HR&CE, the Archaeological Survey of India, IIT, Madras University and the State Archaeology and Museums Departments. The course covers all heritage monuments, both temples and secular. Such a course is the first of its kind in the country.