*No clarity yet on tunnel unearthed in Coimbatore * V.S. Palaniappan and M. Soundariya Preetha * Archaeology Department officials inspect it * — PHOTO: S. SIVA SARAVANAN
* Fuelling curiosity:The brick structure found during road expansion work near Sungam junction in Coimbatore. *
COIMBATORE: Amid growing curiosity on the brick structure unearthed near Sungam here last week during road expansion works, officials of the Archaeology Department inspected it on Tuesday.
The outlet, which is about 20 feet wide was found at nearly 10 feet depth. It runs underground for close to 20 feet after which it is blocked by soil and clay.
“We visited the site as the Highways wanted a certificate that there is no evidence to declare it an archaeological monument,” an official of the Department told The Hindu. A day after the structure was unearthed, the official said there was no evidence to declare it an archaeological monument and he reiterated it on Tuesday.
The structure was probably constructed during the 19 {+t} {+h} century, he said.
Already the structure has generated curiosity among the public who are thronging the site in large numbers every day.
Assistant Divisional Engineer of National Highways A.S. Viswanathan told The Hindu that Divisional Engineer G. Thangamuthu had asked the officials to continue with the widening work without any disturbance to the structure until a clear picture emerged.
The National Highways was widening the road at Sungam for close to 16 feet to enable motorists from the bypass road have a comfortable turning radius at the junction.
Public Interest Litigation
A culvert would be constructed at Valankulam, a water body at Sungam here, and a retaining wall would be raised before widening the road.
A Public Interest Litigation (PIL) was filed before the Madras High Court on Tuesday saying the outlet should be opened for public viewing. C.M. Manikandan (brother of C.M. Ravi, who has filed the PIL) said the National Highways was the respondent. Letters were also sent to the Archaeology Department, Coimbatore District Collector, Chief Minister's Cell and south tahsildar, Coimbatore.
Mr. Manikandan said that presence of clay in the tunnel should be researched.
He contended that the structure would have been a tunnel constructed in 1803 by Ramaswamy Devendrar.
The Government should carry out a study to trace the history of the structure.
The Highways Department and the departments concerned should be directed to make sure that the structure was not destroyed, he said.