Puri: The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) is yet to mend cracks on the dome of Konark Sun temple Jagamohan, even though experts and social activists have been raising concern over the shrine dilapidation for last several months.
ASI authorities had engaged Roorkee-based Central Building Research Institute (CBRI) to examine the status of Sun temple Jagamohan and submit a report by April-end. However, the CBRI is yet to submit a final report on the temple structure, sources said.
The interior of Jagamohan was filled with sand in 1903 to strengthen the dilapidated structure. The ASI was asked to take control over 13th century shrine and initiate steps for its preservation in 1939.
The ASI has been undertaking minor repair works at the Sun temple, a world heritage site, for last several years. The central agency had engaged the CBRI to survey the temple in 2014 after concerns were raised about its dilapidation. CBRI experts, however, failed to submit a report on the temple structure, sources said.
While participating in a review meeting in December last year, a few members of ASI-sponsored Konark Working Group had expressed displeasure over the weakening of temple Jagamohan. The experts had warned that the 13th century structure will face a collapse if steps are not taken to repair cracks on its Jagamohan at the earliest.
Subsequently, the ASI had asked CBRI experts to conduct a fresh survey on Sun temple and submit a report on its status. Accordingly, CBRI officials had conducted an endoscopy of the dilapidated structure in February this year. They had also dug a whole near the temple to examine the status of its foundation. However, the CBRI experts are yet to submit a report to the ASI, sources said.
“Several cracks have appeared on the dome of Sun temple Jagamohan. ASI authorities have not taken any step to mend the cracks. We will not allow the central agency to collect entry fees from the visitors if they do not repair the structure at the earliest,” said social activist Badal Kumar Das.
Konark Working Group member and former superintendent of state archaeology department Bijay Kumar Rath criticised the ASI for appointing CBRI to examine the Sun temple structure.
“The 13th century shrine is an artistic marvel in the world. We should not consider it as an ordinary structure,” he said.
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