CHENNAI: HR and CE Minister KR Periyakaruppan on Wednesday told the State Assembly that the government was taking steps to provide two entrances to the 2000-year-old Murugan Temple at Tiruchendur so that devotees could have darshan easily.
He also informed that efforts were on to retrieve the keys of the jewel chest of the temple, currently in the custody of the sthalathars (traditional priests).
The minister said that since the number of devotees visiting the temple had gone up over the years, it was hard for them to gain access through the existing south and east entrances, in response to a query raised by PMK MLA T Velmurugan during question hour.
Therefore, the government is considering the advise of Sthapathi Muthiah for creating two more entrances to the temple.
With regard to allegations that the temple ornaments were being stolen, Periyakaruppan said that there were four keys to the jewel chest, which were in the custody of the sthalathars for many decades.
When allegations against them were received in 1966, the HR and CE took possession of two keys while the rest are still in the custody of the sthalathars.
He said that the rest of the keys should also be in the possession of the HR and CE department since the government was responsible for the management of the temple. The department had moved the court in this connection.
However, the stalthars had sought more time after the court asked them to hand over the keys by January 11.
Estimation of the temple jewels was done in 1966, 1982 and 2009.
Except the allegation over the loss of jewels worth `70,000 in 1966, there was no other complaint, the Minister concluded.