Poondi in neighbouring Tiruvallur district will soon get a thematic prehistoric park.
Announcing this in the Assembly on Thursday, school education minister Vaigaichelvan said Rs. 20 lakh had been allocated for the park that will come up near the prehistoric excavation site.
It will house life-size models of nilgai, bison, wild cat and mammoths that lived in the area one lakh years ago.
“Poondi is a tourist spot as it has a reservoir. The museum will be of interest to children as well as adults. The building housing the site museum containing archaeological artefacts has recently been renovated,” explained a source.
The minister also announced that Rs. 20 lakh would be allocated for supply of handheld devices to issue tickets at the archaeological site museums in Manora, Madurai, Tanjore, Ramanathapuram and Tranquebar. The funds would also be utilised for development of software and server.
In an effort to conserve archaeological monuments and temples in the State, Mr. Vaigaichelvan said a consultant would be appointed to evaluate such structures. The consultant would suggest the type of repair work to be undertaken in temples under the control of the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments too. A total of Rs. 15 lakh has been allocated for this purpose.
The minister said excavations would be carried out in Srirangam in Tiruchi district at a cost of Rs. 2 lakh.
A rare Swastik well at Tiruvellarai in Lalgudi will be conserved at a cost of Rs. 25 lakh. The well, also known as Marpidugu Perunkinaru, was dug by Kamban Araiyan. It is located 25 km from Tiruchi, on the way to Thuraiyur.
As part of work to conserve the tower at Manora in Sarabendrarajapattinam, 65 km from Thanjavur, Rs. 12 lakh will be spent on lighting and other works. The tower is located inside a fort that also has a moat.
