11 reports on Konark temple conservation gather dust

At least 11 reports prepared by different authorities at different times on the protection and preservation of the 13th century world famous Sun Temple at Konark are gathering dust.

This was stated by social activist and advocate Dilip Mohapatra in a miscellaneous petition in the Orissa high court yesterday.

The miscellaneous case arising out of a public interest litigation (PIL) was filed in the vacation court of Justice BN Mohapatra and Justice BK Naik by the petitioner seeking a direction to the state government for furnishing all reports to the court and explain why no action was taken to protect the the temple.

The petitioner earlier this month had drawn the attention of the HC towards water-logging in the temple premises through a PIL and had informed about the plight of tourists and visitors who had to wade through knee-deep water to visit the heritage site.

Following the high court's intervention, the state government and ASI had taken measures to clear the water-logging.

A team of advocates who recently visited the temple also submitted a report to the court stating that the temple has not been refurbished since 1903 as a result of which cracks have developed and lichens, weeds and small plants were growing.

The temple was declared a heritage site by Unesco in 1984.