Dismantling of Sri Selva Vinayagar temple to begin in Cuddalore

Rituals were performed at Sri Selva Vinayagar Temple situated on Nethaji Road in Cuddalore on Sunday.

CUDDALORE: 

         Special pujas and “palalayam” rituals were performed before the dismantling of the 200-year-old Sri Selva Vinayagar Temple situated on Nethaji Road here on Sunday. The presiding deity will soon be shifted to a new temple coming up on an adjacent site.

        According to sources, prior to renovation or reconstruction of an ancient temple, “palalayam” would have to be performed and after which the sanctum sanctorum would be closed and the main deity shut out from the public worship. The original idol thus taken out would be preserved as per the ‘Agama sastras.' Until the new structure is ready, an alternative idol - carved out of granite or wood - would be placed for worship in a temporary shelter on the same precinct.

          In this case, two shrines - that of Sri Selva Vinayagar and Draupadi Amman - are located on the same premises.

Sri Selva Vinayagar Devotees' Trust has taken up the reconstruction work for two reasons: 

             Nethaji Road that forms part of East Coast Road is a narrow stretch and, therefore, facing the imminent threat of demolition by the Highways Department; second, the temple structure has started getting dilapidated. The Trust, therefore, has drafted a plan to reconstruct both the shrines at an estimated cost of Rs. 1 crore.

          The shrine for Sri Selva Vinayagar is nearing completion and the granite stones for the purpose have been brought from Thiruvakkarai. The old shrine of Draupadi Amman has been pulled down and the stones to be disassembled from the existing structure would be utilised for reconstruction. Secretary of the Trust R. Ganapathy told The Hindu that the services of Sthapathi K.P. Athiappan of Salem had been requisitioned for the purpose. In the new Sri Selva Vinayagar shrine, only the “vimanam” had to be erected and for the Draupadi Amman shrine, the basement and the construction of lotus pedestal (Padma Peedam) were completed.

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Flood control measures yet to take off in Cuddalore district

CUDDALORE: 

          Flood control measures at a total outlay of Rs. 600 crore are yet to take off in Cuddalore district.

        The Assembly elections have stalled the tender procedures for assigning as many as 54 works in this regard, according to K.V. Elangeeran, president of the Vettuvaikkal and Naraikkal Eri Paasana Vivasayigal Sangam. In a statement released here, Mr. Elangeeran said that under the flood control scheme, it was proposed to take up various works such as strengthening weak bunds, lining up canals with tiles or cement blocks, removing silt and clearing waterways of outgrowths.

       However, now with the prospects of the release of Mettur water getting advanced to June 6, none of these works could be taken up. Mr. Elangeeran said that within 20 days of water release from the Mettur Dam, the water would reach the Keelanai and from there it would flow to Veeranam and tail-end of the delta region, including Chidambaram and Kattumannakoil blocks. He said that farmers in the region were usually raising samba crop once a year and their normal sowing season would begin in July. If the Mettur water were to be released now, flood control works would get postponed unusually. Therefore, Mr. Elangeeran appealed to the authorities to resolve the issue without sacrificing both the short-term and long-term interests of the farmers.

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Underground drainage project to be expedited says M.C.Sampath

CUDDALORE: 

         Rural Industries Minister M.C.Sampath told presspersons here on Sunday that steps would be taken for the speedy implementation of all government schemes. As regards Cuddalore constituency, the works on the underground drainage project would be expedited and all pending projects would be completed in a time-bound manner.

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