Rain misery for tourists at Sun Temple again

BHUBANESWAR: THE Sun Temple at Konark, a World Heritage monument, was water-logged again after a few hours of rain on Friday. Visitors had to wade through knee-deep storm water that accumulated on the temple premises following heavy rain in the morning.It took the officials of Archeological Survey of India (ASI), that looks into preservation of the historical monument, over two hours to drain out the water through four pumps. Apparently, the drainage channel that begins from right side of the main temple and extends outside the 13th century monument has been encroached upon due to unauthorised habitations as a result of which, rain water does not get drained out naturally.

Apparently, water-logging during rain has become a regular affair in the historical monument for over a decade but no efforts have been taken by officials concerned to prevent it. Last year, a PIL was filed in Orissa High Court highlighting the sorry state of affairs at the temple.

There was severe water-logging on the temple premises in 2010 following which, the State Government declared to spend `1 crore to improve the existing drainage system to facilitate natural discharge of storm water. However, no such step has been taken so far. The proposal was to construct a two-km concrete drain connecting the Sun Temple with a nullah close to Bhubaneswar-Konark road. Work was to be taken up either by the ASI or the State Government as no construction by any agency can be allowed within 120 metres radius of the protected monument.

Konark Surakhya Samiti activists, who have been agitating for conservation of the temple, said the revenue collected through entry fee by ASI is not being utilised for upkeep of the monument.
On the other hand, an official of the ASI said although there was a proposal to improve the existing drainage channel by the State Government, it had to abandon the plan due to illegal habitations outside the temple premises. “People who have set up shops in the area through which the drain would pass, refused to vacate the space. As a result, no construction could be taken up and it was decided to use motor pumps to drain out storm water from the temple,” he said.

Apparently, tourist visits to the Sun Temple has increased after the light and sound show was introduced, which was suspended on Friday due to rain. Currently, more than 4,000 tourists visit the temple every day.