In an attempt to preserve historical monuments from the onslaught of quarrying, the Tamil Nadu government is taking steps to declare as “protected areas” the entire hills that house historical monuments, School Education Minister Thangam Thennarasu told the Assembly on Wednesday.
The Minister was replying to PMK whip T. Velmurugan and Viduthalai Chiruthaikal Katchi (VCK) leader D. Ravikumar who expressed concern over the safety of Tamil Brahmi inscriptions found on rocks in various parts of the State in the wake of increasing quarrying activities.
Mr. Thennarasu, who is also holding the Department of Archaeology, explained as per the government order issued in 1966, all activities were prohibited within the first 100 metres surrounding monuments.
The next 200 meters have been classified as a regulated area. Still, quarrying beyond these areas has an impact on the rocks.
Committee formed
He said the State government has constituted a committee headed by the Chief Secretary to look into these aspects.
“After discussing the issue in detail, the Archaeology department will take steps to declare the entire hills as protected areas,” he said.
As regards Mr. Ravikumar's suggestion that Brahmi scripts could be called as Tamizhi, the Minister said inscriptions had been classified such as Buddha Brahmi, Ashoka Brahmi and Mourya Brahmi.
Lalitha Vistara, a Buddhist work, referred to the script as Dravidi. But epigraphists like Iravadham Mahadevan had stressed that there was no need to change the name Tamil Brahmi.
The Minister said the Oriental Manuscripts Library would be shifted to Anna Centenary Library in Kotturpuram.
