Sambalpur: Samlei, the prime deity of western Orissa, is revered by one and all in western Orissa and beyond. Thousands of devotees visit Samlei temple everyday to seek blessings. However, the durability of the 400-year-old temple is at stake.
An expert team of archeological survey of India (ASI) has expressed concern over the stability of the temple building. An ASI team had visited the temple in September last year and submitted a status report to its higher-ups.
The status report says the temple base had become porous due to multiple rat-holes and no efforts have been taken to prevent further damage nor is there a plan to undertake curative measures to protect the structure.
Another lacuna pointed out by ASI is that there is no lightening conductor fitted in the tall structure making the temple vulnerable to lightening strike.
Speaking to Orissa POST, managing trustee of Samlei temple Sanjay Baboo said the concern raised by the ASI team has been taken up seriously and appropriate remedial measures are on the anvil.
He said the base of the temple will be thoroughly inspected after removing two marble plates near the exit drain meant for coconut water. Then adhesive chemical mixed cement paste will be pumped in under strong pressure through the exposed rat holes. This will strengthen the temple base.
Answering a question on the lightening conductor, he said an electronic lightening conductor will be fitted on the outer wall of the temple that will protect the structure from lightening strike. He assured that the problems will be addressed by next month February.
Although a little developmental work is seen in the periphery of the temple complex, the main structure is grossly overlooked except for some cosmetic works.
Sources said the temple is riddled with a lot of managerial problems and the temple trust seems to clueless about this.
The sculpted gateway at the riverside of the temple was demolished during expansion work of the adjoining Ring Road and there is constant pressure on the district administration to erect a new gate there.
Collector Samarth Verma said Rs 4 four was already earmarked for building of a new gate and the works department is entrusted with the work. He assured that the new gate would be far better than the earlier one and it will be completed at the earliest. However, the schedule of the proposed work is running four months behind the timeline
Sambalpur MLA Raseswari Panigrahi had recently said the state government has sanctioned Rs 2 crore advance to fix a ‘light and sound system’ as part of an estimated cost of Rs 4 crore. However, nobody knows as to when it will be carried out. PNN