Centre To Take Up Konark Temple Conservation Work With ASI

Bhubaneswar: The Centre will discuss the ongoing repair and conservation work of the Sun temple at Konark with the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), Union Tourism Minister Prahlad Singh Patel said on Friday.

“It has been alleged that ASI has been replacing sculpted stones at the temple with plain stones. Besides, the repair of the drainage system is not satisfactory. The time has come for a detailed review of these issues,” the minister told the media after arriving at the Biju Patnaik International Airport here.

Singh said he will also review the development of tourism in Puri later in the day.

He informed that the Centre is going to formulate new tourism policy very soon, He further said that there are a number of exciting and unexplored tourist destinations in Odisha that people of the country are eager to know.

Singh is scheduled to attend the National Tourism Conference at the Marine Drive Eco Retreat at Konark which will conclude on Friday evening.