Heritage enthusiasts have opposed digging the ground for the construction of a new building near the Big Temple, Thanjavur, and want the ongoing work near the heritage structure to be halted immediately. They said under the smart city project, the civic authorities are constructing a mall and a parking lot near the moat of the temple which may cause danger to the base of the architecture.
Workers have been digging in the old Thiruvalluvar theatre complex which is near Big Temple. But as per the norms and guidance for the preservation of heritage buildings in India, it is mandatory to get permission from the Archaeological Department which was not done in this case, said heritage enthusiasts.
S.Udhaya Shankar, president of Great Cholas Historical Research Group, said, ‘after digging up the earth, we could see basements over red granite rocks. This might be the outer fort wall of the moat built during the reign of Cholas. So immediate action needs to be taken to stop the work…