Shops take over heritage temple

PUDUCHERRY: Unauthorised petty shops have come up on the premises of Sri Moolanatha Swamy temple at Bahour, a national monument protected by Archaeological Survey of India (ASI).Near the entrance of the temple from northern side, several petty shops have come up on their own in the “prohibited area”. As per the ASI Act, a minimum of 100 metres is the  prohibited area around protected monument.Besides the violation, shops have been reportedly selling alcoholic drinks, in a clandestine way, along with puja items, say locals. The conservation assistant, ASI, Puducherry, has petitioned the police and district collector to intervene and remove the petty shops from the protected site.Superintending archaeologist, Chennai, Satyabhama Badhreenath, issued a general circular on April 13, 2010 to the District Collector for implementation of ancient monuments and Remains (amendment and Validation) Act.She said instructions should be given to revenue and police authorities to implement the act passed by government to stop all construction in prohibited and regulated areas.