26ft Tiruppur menhir likely to be declared protected monument

TIRUPPUR: The Tamil Nadu government is set to notify a 26-foot menhir at Kumarikkalpalayam in Kavuthampalayam village, Tiruppur district, as one of the state's protected monuments under the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act.
In this regard, Commissioner of the State Department of Archaeology, T Udhayachandran, has written to Tiruppur District Collector T Christuraj, requesting a formal proposal for the declaration. The directive follows a report submitted by archaeologists who inspected the site in Uthukuli block and confirmed the menhir's historical significance.

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Learn with AIFact CheckingText to SpeechAI Summary

Related Articles

Hans India

18 hours ago

• Hans India

NGT takes suo motu cognisance of poor condition of ancient water tank in Hyderabad's Golconda Fort

The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has taken suo motu cognisance of a media report highlighting the "poor" and deplorable condition of Katora Houz, a historic water tank located inside Hyderabad's Golconda Fort. A bench headed by judicial member Justice Arun Kumar Tyagi registered an original application suo motu (on its own) following a news item titled "Neglected Katora Houz in Hyderabad's Golconda Fort Cries for attention". Referring to the news article, the Bench, also comprising expert member A Senthil Vel, noted that the tank, which was once an important source of water, is now full of garbage and has no water left. The news item also pointed out that the area surrounding Katora Houz is facing increasing encroachments, further contributing to the tank's deterioration. "(A)lthough the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) conducted a 10-day cleanup operation in 2025 to remove water hyacinth and debris, the pool has since reverted to being a dumping ground," noted the NGT in its order passed on June 5. The green body said the matter highlighted in the news item attracted the provisions of The Environment Protection Act, 1986, the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 and the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, 1958. Saying that the power of the NGT to take up the matter suo motu has been recognised by the Supreme Court, the Justice Tyagi-led Bench impleaded the Telangana State Pollution Control Board, the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), the GHMC, and Hyderabad's District Magistrate as respondent parties to the matter. "Let notices be issued to the respondents for filing their response/reply by way of affidavit," ordered the green tribunal, transferring the matter for further hearing on August 6 before the Southern Zone Bench. It said that since the place of accrual of the cause of action lies within the jurisdiction of Chennai's Southern Zone Bench, the case should be further heard there. "Replies/ responses may be filed by the respondents (authorities) before the Southern Zone Bench of this Tribunal at Chennai at least one week before the date of hearing fixed," the NGT ordered.

Time of India

11-06-2025

• Time of India

Heritage pushback for Old Goa police station project

Panaji: Activists have flagged govt's plan to reconstruct Old Goa's police station as a ground-plus-two structure in the buffer zone of the world heritage site. They have stated that construction of the project will impact the sanctity and ambience of the historic place. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now A site with a small area cannot accommodate a police station to cater to two constituencies, they've said while suggesting that govt consider an alternative place for the police station in order to safeguard the Unesco designated site. 'Renovation of the police station is okay, but construction as planned will add to traffic congestion at the spot,' Jacquelin Fernandes of the Save Old Goa Action Committee told reporters. The committee has petitioned the chief minister to reconsider the plan in the buffer zone, stating that they have, in the past, submitted memoranda opposing projects detrimental to the world heritage site. One of them was a petition signed by more than 34,000 persons that pressed for proper planning at Old Goa. Another local activist, Glean Cabral has stated that the construction would fall within 300m of the regulated zone of the Bom Jesus basilica. The monument is governed under the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, 1958, as amended in 2010. Pursuing the project would be in breach of the Act and rules. Under Section 20D(2) of the Act, 'heritage bylaws' must regulate all construction. But to date, no bylaws have been finalised for any monument in Old Goa, despite the Act and rules coming into force from 2010 and 2011 respectively. Further, the basilica has been facing several problems due to dampness caused by waterlogging. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The project, with its plans for excavation, may irreversibly impact the local drainage flow, the activist said in his plea to govt. He further cautioned about the height of the proposed structure in this area, stating that approval to such a tall building would have an abrupt impact on the area's architectural character, and would also set a dangerous precedent in the heritage zone, opening the doors for other similar scale private projects in future.

The Hindu

08-06-2025

• The Hindu

District Collectors to have wide powers in registering new Waqf properties and deciding on Waqf claims on government properties

The District Collectors will have a crucial role in registering new Waqf properties and looking into complaints of government properties being identified or declared as Waqf, according to the draft Waqf rules. The Union government has sought the views of the State governments and the State Waqf Boards on the draft rules for the Waqf (Amendment) Act 2025, which was passed by Parliament in April. The Rules will come into force once they are notified in the Gazette of India. The Collector shall inquire into the genuineness and validity of the application for registering a new Waqf in accordance with the revenue laws and confirm that the Waqif (the one who is making the Waqf) is a lawful owner of the property and competent to dedicate it as a Waqf. The Collector will also ascertain that the proposed property is not a government property, a protected monument or protected area under the Ancient Monuments Preservation Act, 1904 or the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, and does not belong to Scheduled Tribes, according to the draft rules. Kerala had been keenly awaiting the introduction of the Rules as Kiran Rijiju, the Union Minister for Minority Affairs, had stated earlier this year that the enactment of the Rules would help the Munambam residents in their legal fight for restoring the revenue rights of their holdings. The residents had opposed the decision of the Kerala Waqf Board in notifying the land as a Waqf property. Two petitions challenging the decision of the Board are pending before the Waqf Tribunal. The residents, who claimed that they had purchased the holding from Farook College, Kozhikode, have been protesting for 240 days. Portal, database The 15-point Rules also speak about setting up a portal and a database for filing the details of Waqf and registration of new Waqf. There shall be provisions for real-time monitoring of registration of new Waqf and filing the details of the Waqf, court cases and dispute resolution and resources management. The District Collector can order an inquiry when it comes to the notice of the official that any government property has been identified or declared as a Waqf. The designated officer shall hear all persons concerned or any person having any interest in the property, including the government and mutawalli of the Waqf and ask them to submit their claims and counter-claims within a specified period. The inquiry should be completed within one year, say the draft rules. Kerala government has sought time to file its response.