With Dilapidating Heritage, TN Formulates New Conservation Policy For Temples Using Traditional Techniques 

In a move to address the structural distress of temple structures including those of heritage value, the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department (HR & CE) is in the process of evolving a policy aimed at formulating a strategy for the same. The department is also preparing a road map for conservation of temples under its control by involving the indigenous or traditional skills of the Sthapathis reports Deccan Chronicle.

The temples will be classified on the basis of their historic importance to new constructions, temples of archaeological architectural value, etc.

"There is a need to evaluate the temples for appropriate conservation strategies using criteria relevant to the structures and initiate steps for conservation, renovation or maintenance that are specific to the nature of the temple," says a manual on temple conservation prepared by the department recently.

Roadmap for addressing any structural distress to temple structure with has also been suggested. Since the structure, material and nature of construction vary from one temple to another, emphasis has been made on the cultural and emotional factors while dealing with the conservation.

All conservation efforts would be done after diligent consultation with experts approved by the Archeological Survey of India, State Archaeology Department and the Museum Department as well as prominent conservation experts.