Officials urged to protect ancient Shiva temple

Tiruvannamalai

According to TM Prakash, president of the Centre for Historical Research, a 700-year-old Ganesh temple on the same location was demolished a decade ago, as it was considered an encroachment.  Recently, when the local body workers were digging a trench to erect the lamp, they stumbled upon the remnants of the Shiva temple, he added. Prakash said the remnants revealed that the temple was built on top of a foundation of black soil with small fire-baked bricks. He added that the black soil ensured that the temple can withstand earthquakes. Officials of the State Archeology Department, who visited the site, have requested the government to decide on how to preserve the find, official sources said.