The Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowment Department has decided to apply environment-friendly painting on all towers (gopurams) and the rajagopuram of the Srirangam Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple.This is the first time that the emulsion paint is being used. Although a bit expensive, it is not only more durable but can withstand bad weather conditions also particularly heat during summer. Explaining the advantages of this water-based emulsion paint over the conventional material, sources said that upper layers of the painted surface got peeled off in course of time due to heat and rain under the old method. The temple accounts for 26 gopurams apart from the massive structure of rajagopuram and 33 vimanams.
The HR and CE Department has fixed December 31 as the deadline for completing the painting process. Periodical meeting with sthapathis is being held to review the progress of the painting programme. Work on renovation of the temple began in June this year.