Odisha

Know How ASI Plans To Remove Sand Stuffed Into Konark Sun Temple By The British 119 Years Ago

By
OB Bureau

Bhubaneswar: Hundred and nineteen years later, the process for removing sand from the towering Jagamohan of 13th century Sun Temple at Konark has begun.

According to sources, the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), which conducted a ground-breaking ceremony on Thursday, is constructing a mechanical working platform on the western side of the structure, which will help in the drilling and transportation of equipment, and debris from the temple. It is taking the help of BDR Construction Pvt Ltd for technical know-how. IIT, Madras, and engineers of the state are being involved in the long drawn-out process, which could take at least three years.

While the mechanical working platform will take two to three months to complete, the process to remove stones over the ‘Antarala’ from the western side of the temple through a 6 ft X 5 ft hole/tunnel manually created at the location where the British had originally put sand will begin in January next year. “The tunnel will be opened from the top of the western side of Jagamohan near the first pidha to create a passage. The aim is to stabilise the structure and we are taking utmost precautions while evacuating the sand,” Superintending Engineer of Bhubaneswar Circle, ASI, Arun Malik told the media.

He further said that a structural health monitoring system will be put up in the monument to check the vibrations and tilt before drilling the tunnel at the point which was used by the British to fill in sand and another at the bottom of the ‘Antarala.’

According to the ASI, sand inside the Jagamohan is filled up to a height of 19.8 metres and there is a gap of 5.8 metres. The window will be created 5 to 7 ft below the point where the sand from the top has settled. An internal concrete platform supported by props from the inner cavity will be erected once sand is removed from this point. The ASI will then remove the platform using traditional conservation methods and slowly go down.

During the last two years since the decision to remove sand from the sanctum sanctorum was taken, the ASI has conducted several studies and surveys, including laser scanning, to get an idea of the structure inside. “The edifice of the 13th century as it now has been studied by experts so far as internal geometry, structural condition and the foundation with the help of modern technical devices. Opinion of experts, including archaeologists, engineers, and architects, has also been obtained through seminars regarding the removal of sand from the inner side of the Jagamohan,” he was quoted as saying.

He further informed that the Roorkee-based Central Building Research Institute (CBRI) has conducted studies which assured that the structure is safe enough for this work.

As per CBRI’s estimation, the mass of the Jagamohan at top of the plinth level would be a humongous 46,000 tonnes.

After removing the sand, structural repair of vulnerable portions would begin. “The repair work can also go simultaneously. After completion of the work, the visitors coming from across the globe to see the beauty of the black pagoda will have a glance of the Jagmohan,” he added.

One of the architectural marvels of the world, the 13th-century monument’s Jagamohan (assembly hall) has remained sealed since 1903 when sand was poured inside by the British government to save it from crumbling. The ASI had accepted a proposal to remove sand from inside the Konark Temple, Odisha’s only UNESCO World Heritage Site, at a national conference on ‘Conservation of Sun Temple’ attended by the then Union Culture Minister in February 2020.

 

(With inputs from TOI, TNIE and The Telegraph)

OB Bureau

Recent Posts

Rs 7.3 Lakh Looted From GSK Employee In Broad Daylight In Odisha’s Balangir

Balangir: In a daring act, unidentified miscreants allegedly looted Rs 7.3 lakh cash from a…

November 8, 2024

Don’t Give Into Blackmailing, Immediately Report To Police: Cuttack DCP

Cuttack: Following the alleged gangrape of a college girl, Cuttack DCP Jagmohan Meena on Friday…

November 8, 2024

Elon Musk’s Estranged Daughter Wants To Leave US; Here’s Why?

New Delhi: Vivian Jenna Wilson, the transgender daughter of Elon Musk, says she is leaving…

November 8, 2024

Fact Check: ‘Secret Memo’ Links Indian Diplomats With Violent Crimes In West?

New Delhi: The Ministry of External Affairs on Friday stated that a ‘secret memo’ that…

November 8, 2024

Law Minister Assures ‘Crime-Free Odisha For Women’ By 2036 Amid Outrage Over Cuttack Gangrape

Bhubaneswar/Cuttack: Amid statewide outrage over alleged gang-rape of a girl college student in Odisha's Cuttack…

November 8, 2024

CID To Investigate Case Of ‘Missing Samosas’ Meant For Himachal CM? Where Did They Vanish?

New Delhi: A controversy has erupted in Himachal Pradesh over samosas that went missing from…

November 8, 2024

IT Engineer Held For Raping Colleague On False Promise Of Marriage In Bhubaneswar

Bhubaneswar: An IT engineer was arrested by the Commissionerate Police on Friday on charges of…

November 8, 2024

In-Charge Medical Officer & Pharmacist Caught Taking Rs 40K Bribe In Odisha

Bhubaneswar: The Odisha Vigilance sleuths on Friday apprehended medical officer in-charge of Boipariguda Community Health…

November 8, 2024