ASI yet to repair Konark slab

BHUBANESWAR, OCT 13: Three weeks after the two-tonne stone slab fell from the north-eastern side of the historic Sun Temple at Konark, th...

BHUBANESWAR, OCT 13: Three weeks after the two-tonne stone slab fell from the north-eastern side of the historic Sun Temple at Konark, the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) is yet to replace the stone. Instead, it is busy determining at what time the stone fell.

“It happened decades ago, but we don’t have any records here. Anyway, the ASI’s job is to conserve monuments and not repair them,” Deputy Superintendent (Archaeology) of ASI, T J Alone, told The Indian Express.

Alone said the stone slab could have fallen before 1968 as it was visible in a photograph of the Black Pagoda, published in a book titled `Konark’. The book was authored by former ASI director general Debala Mishra and published in 1968.

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“We have recently taken up measures as per the experts’ comments and archaeological norms for the preservation of the fallen stone slab. At present, it (the slab) is very safe,” said Alone.

He added the broken area in the spire of the temple’s `Jagamohan’ (the second section) has beentreated with Epoxy Mortar to prevent further damage.

However, asked why the ASI did not do anything regarding the stone slab that fell `decades ago’, Alone refused to comment. He said the Black Pagoda is in `perfect condition’.

When the slab had fallen off the spire, ASI conservation assistant at Konark A K Mohanty had maintained he was awaiting the green signal from the United Nations Education, Science and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) to start repair work. Alone did not comment on Mohanty’s statement. “Ask the officers sitting at Delhi,” he said.

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