Bhubaneswar: Concerned over conservation
of the 13th century Sun Temple at Konark, Orissa government
has asked the Archaeological Survey of India to immediately
submit its verification report.
A high-power committee of the ASI headed by its joint
director general B R Mani inspected the temple on October 20
and 21, but the government was yet to get a report on the
findings, Culture minister Debi Prasad Mishra said today while
replying to a question in the assembly.
The ASI's inspection took place after Chief Minister
Naveen Patnaik drew Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's attention
that the Black Pagoda, declared a World Heritage Monument by
UNESCO, was neglected.
Joint verifications had taken place at the Sun Temple on
June 17 and October 13 following reports that stones were
falling off, Mishra said.
Though Konark temple came under the protection of ASI in
1915, the conservation, preservation and development was taken
up after creation of Bhubaneswar circle of ASI in 1985.
Bureau Report
First Published: Thursday, November 19, 2009, 21:47