<p>The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) and the Karnataka State Archaeology Department are shocked that the historic Vasanthpura temple tank is being closed to make way for a road.<br /><br />DH had reported on Tuesday how the government was building a road over a kalyani (stepped temple tank) to help a private land developer. With the construction of the road, three-fourths of the tank space will be covered, with just a token tank remaining.<br /><br />The tank, attached to the Vasanathavallabha temple off Kanakapura Road, was built 350 years ago by Shahaji Raje Bhonsle, father of Maratha king Shivaji.<br /><br />With the story going viral, and even being tweeted by Rajya Sabha member Rajeev Chandrasekhar to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s handle, a panicky muzrai department came up with a string of excuses.<br /><br />The BDA wants to acquire the northern part of the tank to widen the road, according to officials under whose jurisdiction the temple tank falls.<br /><br />K Moortheswari, superintending archaeologist, Archaeological Survey of India, said, “Monuments cannot be defaced. If it is a tank of a living temple, where worship happens ritually, then it cannot be defaced. How can anybody close the temple tank?”<br /><br />She said she had spoken to muzrai assistant commissioner G V Sridhar, who purportedly told her only a part of the tank was being closed. “I will take action only if somebody gives me a written complaint,” she said.<br /><br />R Gopal, director of the state archaeology department, described the closing of a historical monument as an “act of foolishness”. “It is wrong. The muzrai department, custodian of the tank, has to protect it,” he said.</p>
<p>The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) and the Karnataka State Archaeology Department are shocked that the historic Vasanthpura temple tank is being closed to make way for a road.<br /><br />DH had reported on Tuesday how the government was building a road over a kalyani (stepped temple tank) to help a private land developer. With the construction of the road, three-fourths of the tank space will be covered, with just a token tank remaining.<br /><br />The tank, attached to the Vasanathavallabha temple off Kanakapura Road, was built 350 years ago by Shahaji Raje Bhonsle, father of Maratha king Shivaji.<br /><br />With the story going viral, and even being tweeted by Rajya Sabha member Rajeev Chandrasekhar to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s handle, a panicky muzrai department came up with a string of excuses.<br /><br />The BDA wants to acquire the northern part of the tank to widen the road, according to officials under whose jurisdiction the temple tank falls.<br /><br />K Moortheswari, superintending archaeologist, Archaeological Survey of India, said, “Monuments cannot be defaced. If it is a tank of a living temple, where worship happens ritually, then it cannot be defaced. How can anybody close the temple tank?”<br /><br />She said she had spoken to muzrai assistant commissioner G V Sridhar, who purportedly told her only a part of the tank was being closed. “I will take action only if somebody gives me a written complaint,” she said.<br /><br />R Gopal, director of the state archaeology department, described the closing of a historical monument as an “act of foolishness”. “It is wrong. The muzrai department, custodian of the tank, has to protect it,” he said.</p>
