The State government has formed a four-member Archaeological Expert Committee to assist archaeologist K.T. Narasimhan in the conservation and restoration of monuments of ancient and heritage temples with the grant of 13th Finance Commission.
According to a government order issued last month, the committee comprises R. Kannan, Principal Secretary, Tourism, Culture and Religious Endowments in his capacity as conservation archaeologist and museologist; S. Vasanthi, Commissioner in charge, Department of Archaeology; G. Maheswari, Superintending Archaeologist, Archaeological Survey of India, Chennai Circle; and K. Moortheeswari, Deputy Superintending Archaeologist, ASI, Chennai Circle.
Besides assisting Mr. Narasimhan as a team, the members can act independently either individually or as a team for those sites not covered by him.
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Mr. Narasimhan was on June 29 designated by the government as Archaeological Consultant for the Departments of Archaeology and Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments for all conservation and restoration works.
A sum of Rs.90 crore has been allotted from 2011-12 to 2014-15 as grant under the 13th Finance Commission for conservation and restoration of dilapidated heritage temples.
These temples, according to the GO, are repositories of the Tamil culture.
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