A magnificent temple in ruins

Lost glory

Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has already written to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

“The CM has written a letter to the prime minister expressing his concern over the condition of the Konark Sun Temple. He has appealed for a long term action plan from the Centre for conservation of this important monument. He has also requested the prime minister to send a team of experts to look into the problems of the world famous monument,” Patnaik’s public relation officer (PRO) S K Panda told Deccan Herald on Tuesday.

The CM has also slammed the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) for not doing enough for the protection and preservation of the architectural marvel, popularly known as the “black pagoda.”

“The Sun Temple needs special conservation programmes but the ASI is not doing enough. The recurring incidents in the monument have hurt the sentiments of the Oriya people,” Patnaik said in his letter. A 30 tonne stone slab had reportedly fallen down from the 13th century edifice on Sunday. The governmen has asked the Puri district administration to conduct an inquiry into Sunday’s incident and file a report to the government as early as possible. However, the local circle of the ASI has completely denied the stone falling incident.