Rainwater enters ASI’s ‘C’ site in Adichanallur amid delay in construction of a shelter
Rainwater has damaged excavated trenches and urns at the Adichanallur archaeological site due to delays in constructing a protective shelter. The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has only recently begun installing support pillars after years of pressure from local enthusiasts.
Why it matters
The incident highlights the ongoing challenges in preserving historical heritage sites against environmental degradation and bureaucratic delays.
Recent showers in the Srivaikuntam region resulted in rainwater entering excavated trenches and urns at the ‘C’ site of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) in Adichanallur.
Although an ASI official had said last year that measures would be taken to construct a protective shelter to cover the site, work on the project has only recently begun, with installation of iron pillars to support a roof made of galvanised sheets.
For nearly two years, archaeology enthusiasts from the region have been calling for the replacement of thatched roofs with a semi-permanent structure to protect the site, which is regarded as a ‘royal site’ owing to the numerous valuable artefacts unearthed there. The much-spoken-about golden diadem was also excavated from the ‘C’ site.
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