Prevent demolition of Rani Mangammal chattiram in Madurai: Dy mayor

Madurai: Deputy mayor T Nagarajan on Thursday submitted a letter to the commissioner of the Madurai Municipal Corporation, seeking to immediately stop the demolition of the Rani Mangammal chattiram, located opposite the Madurai Junction railway station.In the letter, the deputy mayor stated that Rani Mangammal of the Madurai Nayak dynasty carried out several public welfare works for the general public and travellers during her reign (AD 1689-1704), and said the chattiram was the most important among them. He said that devotees and travellers used to stay at the chattiram, which spanned 8,700sqft and had 97 rooms, and described it as a historically significant monument. The deputy mayor also said that revenue department records of several outer ring roads were named Mangammal Salai, which he described as a testament to Rani Mangammal's governance and influence.According to Nagarajan, information was received that the monument was suddenly being demolished. He said an inquiry was made with the concerned officials but no proper response was received. He further stated that officials said only the Karuppatti chattiram was being demolished and that the Mangammal chattiram was not being demolished. However, when he personally visited and inspected the site, demolition work was in progress.The letter requested that the demolition be stopped immediately, that the monument be preserved without altering its antiquity, and that an appropriate inquiry be conducted against those who carried out the demolition and action be taken accordingly.A senior corporation official confirmed that only the Karuppatti chattiram was scheduled for demolition. "I have received a copy of the letter by the deputy mayor, and we will look into it," the official said.The letter was also sent to the chief minister of Tamil Nadu, additional chief secretary, municipal administration and drinking water supply department, and the director of municipal administration in Chennai.