Due to the cracks observed in the

i) East entrance of Ashtasakthi Mandapam and Veera vasantha rayar mandapam,

ii) Cracks in roof stone slabs in Amman sannadhi 2^nd pragaram, and

iii) Cracks in the stone pillars in around Potramaraikulam according to Technical expert committee advise, to provide temporary stability, Steel Girders, I beam have been erected to support roof slabs.

(Photos annexed for Potramarai Kulam cracked pillars)

As per Commissioner, HR&CE department, Chennai letter No.17619/99 Y.3 dated 15.03.1999 and 01.04.1999, Tamil Nadu Government in its order No.385 TDC&RE department dated: 16.06.1999 has formed an Eight member expert committee comprising the following members to inspect the reason for the formation of cracks in the above said structures and to propose a solution to repair those structures.(Annexure I)

1	Chief Engineer, Buildings, PWD, Chennai	Chairman
2	Dr.Lakshmipathy, Anna University, Chennai	Member
3	Dr.K.Ilamparuthy, Anna University, Chennai	Member
4	Dr.Jayagopal, PSG college of engineering and technology, Coimbatore	Member
5	Dr.N. Balasubramanian, Thiagarayar college, Madurai	Member
6	Thiru.P. Sridharan, Superintending Engineer (Retired), PWD	Member
7	Thiru. Muthiah Sthapathy, Sthapathy advisor, HR&CE, Chennai	Member
8	Superintending Engineer, HR&CE, Chennai	Member/Secretary

Based on recommendation from the Trust board of this temple, Commissioner, HR&CE Department, Chennai 34, in his R.C.No.79472/2005 Y3 dated.24.01.2006 has constituted a 3 member committee, to study the effect of reducing thickness of existing brick jelly concrete laid over the roof portion. Annexure IV

1. Prof.S. Rajasekaran, Professor (retired),

PSG college of engineering and technology, Coimbatore.

2. Prof.A.R. Santhakumar, Professor (retired),

Anna University, Chennai

3. Er.S.P. Srinivasan, Structural expert,

ES Consultancy services, Madurai.

1) Immediate safety for the public is utmost important. Hence temporary supports in all these areas may be given immediately

2) There is no way to repair cracked stone slabs in the ceiling: Replacing with new stones is a permanent solution

3) To prevent further cracking of stone slabs, which are already in good condition it will be desirable to consider how load on these slabs can be brought down: earlier study has indicated that weathering course thickness is in the order of 400mm to 700mm.

4) Final decision may be taken after the soil test report and consultation with Stapathi.

(Annexure V)

Annexure VI

Annexure VII

Minutes of the high level expert committee meeting held on 01.12.2006 is enclosed in Annexure VIII

After appointment of expert committee by Government of Tamil Nadu as per the G.O.No.385 TDC&RE department dated: 16.06.1999, one Mr. Muthukumar of Anna Nagar, Madurai has filed a public interest litigation, before the Madurai bench of Madras High court in W.P.No.10202/2006. He has prayed for formation of an expert committee comprising of a team of architect, qualified Engineers, Government approved Stapathies, Members of Archaeological survey of India and other volunteers to inspect the temple and to suggest various measures for structural stability of the temple.

Considering the grievance of the petitioner the Madurai Division Bench of Madras High Court, constituted the committee as follows:

The Hon’ble Madras High Court, Madurai bench in its judgment dated:14.12.2006 in W.P.No.10202/2006 has observed that” As on today, an Expert committee has been constituted and the said committee is at work to find out the various measures to be taken in regard to the cracks developed in the pillars of the above said temple.”

Order copy enclosed. Annexure IX

Minutes of the expert committee meeting held on 23.12.2006 Annexure X.

In the minutes of the expert committee meeting held on 23.01.2007 at Meeting Hall, PWD building, Chepauk, Chennai, the following decisions were taken.

1) To carry out rectification of works to the cracks developed on Second Prakaram of Amman Sannathi ceiling stone slabs and pillars.

2) To carry out rectification of works to the cracks developed on Veeravasantharayar mandapam.

3) Replacing and renovating the pillars and Pavukal around the Potramaraikulam mandapam.

Works in the crack developed ceiling stone slabs and pillars, on second prakaram of Amman Sannathi were replaced by new stone slabs and this work was completed.

Similarly action was taken to carry out repair works on Veeravasantha Rayar Mandapam, an estimate was sanctioned to an amount of Rs.21.00 lakhs vide, commissioner HR&CE department, Chennai proceedings No.36670/2010 Y.3 dated:11.08.2010 and so far one Anivotti cut stone pillar was replaced with a new one and further work is to be done.

Annexure XI

Inspection Note of Dr.G. Maheswari, Superintending Archaeologist is enclosed in Annexure XII.

As per direction of Hon’ble High court bench, the Committee comprising the following members,

1) Ms.M. Kavitha B.L,

Additional Commissioner (Thiruppani), .. Member Secretary

Hindu Religious and Charitable

Endowments Department.

2) Dr. Arun Menon, Assitant Professor, .. Structural Engineering Expert

Structural Engineering Lab, IIT.

3) Dr.G. Maheswari, .. Archaeological Expert

Superintending Archaeologist

4) Dr. T. Sathyamoorthy, .. Conservation Expert

Superintending Archaeologist (Retd)

5) Padmasri M. Muthiah Sthapathi,

Departmental Sthapathy, HR&CE, .. Traditional Sthapathi

Chennai

held meeting at Office of the Commissioner, HR&CE Department, Chennai -34 on 07.12.2016. Minutes of the Hon’ble High Court Committee meeting is enclosed in Annexure XIII.