Konark Surakshya Samiti to go on protest

BHUBANESWAR: Protesting the sheer indifference in preservation and conservation of the Sun Temple at Konark, the Konark Surakshya Samiti has threatened to launch a two-day ‘satyagraha’ from May 30. The members have decided to begin the agitation in front of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) office at Konark. The samiti comprises locals of Konark who are fighting for the proper maintenance of the 13th century monument.Informing this to media persons here on Thursday, the members accused the ASI of being lackadaisical towards the maintenance of the world heritage monument. They said there had been many serious lapses in the maintenance work.Samiti president Sarat Jayasingh alleged that in the name of beautification, more damage had been done to the temple by the ASI. “No step has been taken to evacuate sand from Jagmohan of the temple. Besides, the work of cleaning walls and chemical treatment of structures are found to be done by unskilled labourers without any expert supervision,” he said. Jayasingh added that conservation of the temple should be taken up with latest scientific knowhow under the guidance of a committee consisting of eminent temple architects.The samiti also alleged that no work had begun on the proposed drainage system on the temple premises to allow easy discharge of rainwater from the temple during monsoon. On the lines of the Taj Mahal, where members of Muslim community are not charged any entry fee on Friday to offer ‘namaz’, the samiti  demanded withdrawal of entry fee to the Sun Temple on Saturday as on this day devotees from across India come to offer prayers to the ‘Nabagrahas’ and to make ‘Parikrama’ of the temple.The samiti has demanded formation of a local body to monitor the restoration process, a part of the funds raised by the ASI be specially earmarked for restoration and conservation of the heritage site and a grand Nabagraha temple be built where the existing Nabagraha is worshipped.The samiti members threatened to intensify their agitation and block entry of tourists into the Sun Temple if the ASI and the State Government do not pay any heed to their demands.