New Delhi: The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) believes it is imprudent to remove the scaffoldings attached to the famous Sun Temple in Konark as it could be detrimental to the conservation of the world-famous monument.
Talking exclusively to Orissa POST, ASI Director General Rakesh Tiwari said, “We cannot remove the scaffoldings attached to the Konark temple as it can affect the conservation of the heritage site. They are required on a permanent basis due to the site’s close proximity to the sea. They are prone to be affected by the harmful effects of salty breeze on a regular interval.”
The presence of scaffoldings at Konark temple, if experts are to be believed, can prove to be a hassle for the proposed light and sound work to be undertaken by the India Tourism Development Corporation (ITDC). The show uses the monuments as backgrounds for projecting 3D images to narrate their history.
The ambitious plan has already been started at Dhauli hills, on the outskirts of Bhubaneswar where the history of the famous shanti stupa is narrated in three languages by noted actors through 3D projections on the hill.
There are plans to offer similar service at Konark at an estimated cost of `6.06 crore.
However, the plan seems to have been delayed on account of issues related to scaffoldings at the site which is said to hampering the project.
Tourism department officials who have been working in tandem with ITDC and Orissa Tourism Development Corporation for implementing the project said minor manipulations could be done in consultation with the ASI for the light and sound show at Konark.
“We were told that a major part of the scaffolding will be removed which will enable us to project the light and sound show at Konark,” Nitin Jawale, director, state tourism department told Orissa POST.
Manish Kumar
Post News Network