1,004 temples to be renovated this year in Tamil Nadu: Jayalalithaa ​

Chennai: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa on Wednesday made a slew of announcements pertaining to the departments of School Education, Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments and Fisheries.

In suo motu statements made in the state Assembly, she announced allocation of Rs 56.53 crore towards construction of over 770 classrooms in government primary and middle schools this year.

Five primary schools will be upgraded as middle schools while new primary schools will come up in 39 residential areas where there were no schools, she said adding 78 teachers will be appointed.

New District Institute of Education and Training will come up at Coimbatore and Perambalur while Block Institute for Teacher Education and Training will be set up in Cuddalore, Kancheepuram, Villupuram, Nagapattinam, Nilgiris, Villupuram and Tiruvarur districts, she said.

Further, the Chief Minister announced a series of measures for temples across the state. This included taking up renovation and consecration of 1004 temples this year.

The government had identified 23 dilapidated temples constructed by kings and they will be given a facelift without affecting their aesthetics, Jayalalithaa said,

The annexe of the Srirangam Ranganathaswamy Temple, Pundarikatsa Perumal Temple built by Hoysala king Veera Pallalava in the 13th century will be given a facelift and a sum of Rs five crore has been allotted for the completion of the Rajagopuram (Temple Tower) without compromising its heritage value, she added.

Among others, Jayalalithaa announced setting up a "world-class" research lab here to cater to the needs of cattle, mobile medical ambulance to treat cattle, five fish landing centres at an estimated Rs 25 crore in Nagapattinam and efforts to boost fish rearing.