Konark: Cracks have been spotted on the dome of world famous Sun temple, which has been under repair by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) for last several years.
ASI eastern zone director Nandini Bhattacharya, Bhubaneswar circle superintendent H Nayak, former superintendent Bhuban Bikram, assistant superintendent Sushant Kar, senior conservation assistant Nirmal Kumar Mahapatra and Sun temple technical committee member Bijay Kumar Rath inspected the 13th century shrine Saturday.
Sources said the ASI experts climbed on to the dome using a ladder and took stock of the dilapidated structure.
Intellectuals and social activists, meanwhile, expressed concern over the dilapidation of Sun temple. They are of the opinion that the 13th century shrine which is popularly known as Black Pagoda may collapse if urgent steps are not taken to repair the cracks.
The temple, which is in ruins, has been fitted with iron scaffolding for last two decades. Moreover, its sanctum sanctorum was filled with sand and stones in 1902 to save the structure from collapsing.
However, several stone pieces with exquisite art and architecture have rolled down from the dilapidated structure. ASI officials have replaced many weak stones of the temple with new ones and applied chemical coats on the structure to strengthen it. But the process has erased many beautiful works of the edifice, sources said.
Meanwhile, the ASI sponsored Konark Working Group Committee has urged the central agency to examine the temple structure thoroughly and initiate steps to renovate it at the earliest. “The 13th century structure is in dire straits. ASI experts should examine Sun temple properly and prepare a blueprint for its renovation within a couple of months,” said a member of the temple working group committee.
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