Cuttack: Archeological Survey of India
(ASI) which is in charge of conservation and preservation of
the Sun Temple at Konark since 1915 on Thursday informed the Orissa
High Court that it (ASI)was taking utmost care for proper
protection of the 800-year-old ruined edifice.
ASI superintending archaeologist A K Patel submitted it
to the High Court in a counter affidavit in response to a PIL
filed by a city-based advocate Dilip Mohapatra.
Mohapatra had filed the petition in the wake of
massive water logging in the temple premises in June and
August this year. In subsequent affidavits, the petitioner had
alleged that while lakhs of rupees are being spent towards
preservation of the protected monument, cracks have appeared
in the archeological wonder making it very unsafe for
visitors.
Refuting the allegations made in the petition, the ASI
maintains that the monument is in good state of preservation
and there is no threat to it due to water logging. The
foundation including the soil deposit has been examined by the
Central Building Research Institute (CBRI), Roorkee and found
that there is no danger to the foundation of the temple, the
counter affidavit said.
PTI
