The Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB), the Kannaki trusts of Tamil Nadu and Kerala, and the departments of Archaeology and Forest will jointly take steps to renovate Mangaladevi Temple in Idukki.
Talking to The Hindu here on Tuesday, TDB president A.Padmakumar said Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has assured him the government’s support for the temple renovation work.
Tamil Nadu Kannaki Trust chairman M.Rajendran, accompanied by Mr. Padmakumar and TDB member K.P. Sankaradas, called on the Chief Minister on Monday. The Chief Minister proposed a joint committee for the temple renovation work.
Mr. Rajendran and Mr. Padmakumar will be the president and secretary of the proposed temple renovation committee.
The TDB chief said the joint committee would meet at Kumili on July 13 to chalk out its course of action.
Mangaladevi Temple is situated at Vannathippara in the Periyar Tiger Reserve, about 12 km from Kumili.
Mr. Padmakumar said the Kerala government had already declared the temple a protected monument under the Kerala Ancient Monuments and Archeological Sites and Remains Act.
Disposing of a writ petition (WPC No. 14853/2014 F) earlier, the Kerala High Court had directed the Archaeology Department to renovate the temple.
The Directorate of State Archaeology and the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests had also been entrusted with the task of providing the necessary support for the temple renovation work, he said.
The TDB president said though the Archaeology Department had prepared a master plan and set apart ₹60 lakh for the temple renovation work, the project failed to take off as it required clearance from the National Green Tribunal.
Mr. Padmakumar said the TDB, Kannagi trusts, and the departments of Forest and Archaeology would jointly file an affidavit before the Kerala High Court seeking clearance for the temple renovation work.
He said the TDB would be conducting the temple rituals and festivals at Mangaladevi.