Meenakshi temple fire aftermath: Expert panel for safety in temples

Chennai: The minister for Hindu religious and charitable endowments Sevvoor S. Ramachandran said the government has constituted committee headed by joint commissioner, HR & CE, to inspect all the temples across the state to study structural stability of the temples and electrical installations.

While answering a question raised by DMK Legislator PTR Thiagarajan in the Assembly on Thursday, the minister said that the committee formed based on the recommendation of an expert panel constituted by the HR&CE following February 2, 2018, fire mishap in famous Meenakshi Amman Temple in Madurai.

The expert panel has been making suggestion to prevent such fire tragedy in future. The government under the leadership of Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami gave suggestion to the department to take measures to prevent such mishaps.

The 12-member expert panel, which was formed on February 5, has recommended several measures to be adopted by the department.

Based on this, HR&CE has constituted committee headed by joint commissioner, HR&CE, to inspect buildings, structures in all the temples and electrical networks. On completion of the study, the committee will submit recommendation to the department.

Assistance has been sought from officials in various department to complete the study, he said.

He said after the fire mishap in Meenakshi Amman Temple, efforts were made to restore the damaged portion of East Tower and mandapam.