PIL seeks restoration of ancient gateway

A PIL seeking restoration of an ancient gateway in the old outer periphery of famous Goddess Meenakshi Amman temple here has been filed in the Madras High Court bench here.
When it came up for hearing today, a bench of Justice S Manikumar and Justice C T Selvam posted the case for further hearing on March 10 after the union government's advocate submitted that he would seek the view of Archaeological Survey of India officials.
Petitioner K Pandi Arasan, an advocate, said the "vitta vasal", an ancient gateway to the city, was constructed by the Pandiya Kings in the 13th century and is a testimony to the Pandiya architecture.

During the British period in 1857, in order to expand the city, the then Collector demolished three gates that denoted the border of the city and left the one gate on the Eastern side, which later become a tourist land mark.
But over the years, officials had neglected it and shopkeepers and encroachers damaged the ancient gateway converted the space into concrete rooms with AC facility. The alteration shold not have been allowed at all.
He had sent a representation to the officials, including the Union Assitant Superintendent of Archaeology, the Secretary of Tourism and Culture and Department of Archaeology seeking removal of the new structures and restore the vittavasal to its original shape. But there was no response from the officials.