TN a treasure trove of artefacts: Pandiarajan

Responding to DMK MLA Thangam Thennarasu’s request to strengthen the Idol Wing and create a data base of bronze idols and artefacts of TN, Pandiarajan said the state was the treasure trove of the country and every second day a new treasure was being unearthed. 

“Tamil Nadu has 1.1 lakh artefacts and 36 museums (excluding Ariyalur museum). All the artefacts (1.1 lakh) were tagged and posted online in the last six months,” Pandiarajan informed the House, adding that the state was acquiring and tagging the artefacts at par with the corporates. 

Speaking on the motion earlier, Thennarasu asked the state to strengthen the Idol Wing and said the precious bronze idols from the state were valued between Rs 30-40 crore per piece in the international market and several rare artefacts from the state were being exhibited in museums in US and Australia and hence it was essential to establish the origin of the statues to trace and bring them back to the state. 

Minister Pandiarajan who announced the government would soon constitute the Heritage Commission, as was advised by late CM J Jayalalithaa, said that four museums would come up at Korkai, Keezhadi, Adichanallur and Alakankulam. Rs 1 crore and two acres of land has been allocated for Keezhadi museum in particular, the minister pointed out.