TIRUNELVELI: To protect the `urcharvar' idols of the temples in the district, an idol protection centre has been inaugurated at Sri Nellaiyappar Gandhimathi Ambal Temple here.
Similar idol protection centres are coming up in all districts.
Inaugurating the facility, established at the cost of Rs. 23 lakh, on Monday night, Minister for Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowment Minister K.R. Periyakaruppan said the State Government had allocated Rs. 10 crore to repair the cars of 300 temples across Tamil Nadu and another Rs. 9.85 crore was earmarked for renovating 48 famous temples even as refurbishing of 30 temples had been taken up at the cost of Rs. 3.20 crore.
Desilting of 1,200 temple tanks and fabrication of golden cars were going on 10 temples.
Following threat from terrorists, safety measures had been beefed up in the temples in Tamil Nadu as over 3,000 policemen had been pressed into security, the Minister said.