A defunct pit at least 10-feet constructed behind a temple at Maruthur, Ramanathapuram (Ward No. 67) was temporarily closed on Saturday after it posed a threat to the residents, particularly children in the area for over a month. The pit, which was constructed as part of a new temple for village deity Vandi Muniappan, was closed following an order from V. Prabakar, Executive Officer of the temple, Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR&CE). A group of devotees associated with the temple closed the pit using wooden logs and erected a fence alongside the road, HR&CE sources said.
“Devotees attempted to shift the temple to this location without proper permission from HR&CE,” sources said, following which the officials ordered to stop the temple construction works in September. However, the abandoned pit was present amid two other temples and houses on Mariamman Kovil Street in Maruthur, proving to be risky for children playing outside the houses and pedestrians walking during night time.
V. Rajagopal, a resident of Mariamman Kovil Street, said that the residents opposed construction of the temple since its inception as it was against the agama rules. “Temples for guardian deities should not be constructed in the middle of a street,” he said.
HR&CE sources admitted that this location was unsuitable for the temple construction.
Welcoming the closure of the pit, Mr. Rajagopal said that this was only a temporary solution and that HR&CE officials must take steps for its permanent closure to ensure the safety of children and the residents.
Based on further inspections by higher officials, the pit would be closed permanently in a week's times, according to HR&CE sources.
