RAMANATHAPURAM: The Rameswaram Ramanathaswamy temple tower is stable, because of proper maintenance by the authorities, Muthiah, Sthapathi of the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowment Department, declared in Rameswaram on Saturday.
Ramanathaswamy temple is an ancient shrine, two towers of which were built at different times. The East tower was constructed by Ramanathapuram King Thalavai Sethupathy and philanthropists from Nattukottai Nagarathar families, with nine tires rising 126 feet during 1897-1904.
Earlier, the west tower was erected by King Udaiyan Sethupathy of Ramanathapuram and some philanthropists and was 72 feet high.
Meanwhile, the government appointed a temple tower monitoring committee comprising 10 members, including Muthiah Sthapathi and Mehar Prasath, assistant professor, department of civil engineering, IIT-Madras, following the fall of Kalahasthi temple tower located in Andhra Pradhesh.
Sthapathi Muthaiah said the committee had visited seven temples, including Srirangam temple in Tiruchy, Varadharaja Perumal temple and Ekambareswarar temple in Kancheepuram. The committee has been inspecting the stability of ancient temples in the State. Ramanathaswamy temple authorities have been asked to cover the manhole near the temple kalasams with a removable door to prevent the entry of rainwater and birds inside the towers.
Some wooden beams on the west tower have to be replaced at the temple. Otherwise, the temple was stable and neat. The committee would recommend the removal of encroachments around the many temples and to prevent water stagnating which would affect the temple towers.
Replying to a question, he said that the committee has decided to give priority to Sri Rangam temple tower in which some damages were found. The Rameswaram temple tower needs special attention as it was located near the sea. The South and North towers have to be built with stones brought from Karnataka and the estimated cost of each tower was `1.8 crore.
Elango, joint commissioner of Ramanathaswamy temple devasthanam, Mayilvahanan, assistant director, temple administration, and other members of committee were present.