Puri: All arrangements, including the technical work, are being made to start the process of removal of sand from the world-famous Sun Temple at Konark in Odisha.
Necessary steps are also being taken for the safe preservation of the extracted sand. The initiative is part of the efforts being made by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) for proper conservation of the historic monument.
As the ASI drilled a passage into the Jagamohan (assembly hall) of the 13th-century Sun Temple to remove sand packed inside by the British over a century ago, the Odisha government is closely monitoring the entire exercise, Deputy Chief Minister Pravati Parida said on Friday.
Speaking at the inauguration of the Puri Chapter of the Indian Natio
nal Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH), Parida also further stated that the state government has provided special funding for the restoration and re-establishment of the Raghunandan Library in Puri.
The Deputy CM expressed hope that INTACH would continue working towards the preservation of heritage sites across Odisha.
Stating that a plan has already been set in motion for the safe preservation of the sand extracted from the Sun Temple, the Deputy CM said ASI is fully prepared to undertake the conservation work using all the required technology and scientific methods.
All efforts are being made in accordance with UNESCO’s heritage preservation guidelines, she said.
Among those present at the event were INTACH Secretary Ravindra Singh, Satyabadi MLA Om Prakash Mishra, Odisha Chapter head Anil Dhir, and Puri Chapter convenor Subash Rath.
It may be noted that ASI’s technical team carried out the work of drilling a 6×5-foot passage through which the structure, now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, was filled with sand and sealed. The passage through the western wall would facilitate sand removal operation manually.