ASI urged to renovate ancient temple in Puducherry

The ruling Congress here today urged the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) to immediately take steps to renovate the 7th century Moolanathar temple in Bahoor near here.
General Secretary of PCC A V Veeraraghavan in a release here said he had written to the Director General of ASI, Rakesh Tewary, drawing his attention to the "dilapidated condition of the temple dating back to the seventh century."
The sanctum sanctorum and the shrine of Lord Nataraja and several other areas in it, which are of historical and cultural significance, face the risk of crumbling, he said.
"The renovation work was taken up some four years ago but nothing had been done to strengthen the structure and the ASI has been showing neglect to the very important temple here," Veeraraghavan alleged.

The shrine bears testimony to the architectural features of the past and the outer pathway of the temple has several important and deftly carved images, he added.