Govt decides to declare Nadugal in Kumarikalpalayam as protected monument

The Principal Secretary of the Archaeological Department, T. Udayachandran, has asked the Tiruppur District Collector to send a recommendation for declaring the archaeological monuments in Kumarikalpalayam as protected monuments.
A copy of this letter has been sent by the Finance Minister to Perundurai MLA S. Jayakumar on behalf of the government.
In this, the Principal Secretary has stated in his letter that the department intends to declare the long central stone called Kuthukkal (Kumarikal) located in Kumarikalpalayam in Kavuthampalayam village of Uthukuli taluk in Tiruppur district as a protected monument of the Archaeological Department. 
The research report states that the Nadugal located in Kumarikalpalayam, one of the tallest Nadugals found in India, is one of the types of Neolithic Emachinna and that such Nadugals are found in various parts of Tamil Nadu, especially in Kodumanal, Erode district, and Konkal city, Udumalaipettai taluk, Tiruppur district.
The Sangam literary song Akananuru (249) refers to the natural Nadugal as Nadaa Nedungal.  Accordingly, the 26 feet high Nedungal found in Kumarikalpalayam is of archaeological importance.
In its surrounding areas, there are continuous historical evidences of Neolithic monuments such as stone circles, mudumakal thalhi from the early historical period, various types of pottery from the historical period to the middle stone and inscriptions from various periods.
Therefore, Kumarikalpalayam has archaeological and historical importance.  It is our duty to preserve such archaeologically important stones so that future generations can know them and therefore, the Tiruppur District Collector's opinion be forwarded with appropriate recommendations to declare the Kuthukkal, as a protected monument under Section 3, Sub-section (1) of the Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, 1966 (25/1966), he added.