COIMBATORE: State archaeology department officials have planned to inspect the Kurichi check dam across the Noyyal river in Coimbatore city in the wake of allegations that a historical structure was damaged by an NGO (Siruthuli) desilting the waterbody.According to district archaeology department officials, the process of identifying the documents and references of the structures on the inscriptions is in progress. This initiative follows a representation made by R Manikandan, founder of Kovai Kulangal Padhukappu Amaippu (an NGO), to the state archaeology department to inspect the site and secure the artefacts.Manikandan recently wrote to the district administration and the state archaeology department officials to restore the damaged structure and declare it as a historical site.A district archaeology department official said, “The stones damaged during the process have been identified as historical structures, but the references about their link to the Kolur dam of the Chola dynasty are being analysed. Meanwhile, declaration of check dams as historical monuments is not possible especially when they are in public use. If they were inactive, they could be secured with fencing.”He said the state department would conduct a combined inspection along with the water resources department (WRD) and local body officials and document it. The date of inspection is yet to be decided.Manikandan told TOI that the department should not stop with inspection but should restore the damaged structure. “If the archaeology department declared it as a historical site. any NGO working further on this check dam will be careful in not damaging it. Wherever it is possible, the archaeology department should document and declare its historic status so that people working on such check dams, channels, water bodies or anywhere will be informed of its existence. Meanwhile, they should rename these with their historic names to keep civilization and development of this region alive.”He said, “The Indian Council of Historical Research has documented evidence and topographical reference related to Kolur dam which evidently overlaps the present day Kurichi check dam.”
