This river figures prominently in ancient literature, although at present no river exists in the proximity of the Konark Sun Temple. (File Photo) This river figures prominently in ancient literature, although at present no river exists in the proximity of the Konark Sun Temple. (File Photo)

Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Saturday wrote to Union Minister of Culture Mahesh Sharma to highlight alleged irregularities in the Archaeological Survey of India’s restoration of Konark Temple.

In the letter released to the press Sunday night, Patnaik wrote that as per a regional news report “40% of the artistic stone carvings of the existing Konark Sun Temple have been replaced by the ASI with plain stones”.

Patnaik said the report is a matter of “concern and worry”, adding that the temple carvings symbolize “Odia pride” and is “embellished with sophisticated and refined iconographical depictions of contemporary life and activities”.

Sources in Bhubaneswar’s ASI circle told Indian Express that they are prepared to formally state no restoration rules have been violated, if asked for an explanation by the Culture Ministry.

Konark Temple researcher Anil Dhir agreed that as per UNESCO guidelines on restoration of World Heritage Sites, when an original stone carving is lost it cannot be replicated. However, he alleged that ASI has bent the rule before to create facsimile of original carvings.

“When the ASI restored Humayun’s Tomb, they replicated the original work”, he said, asking, “what prevents them from doing so now”.

Dhir has also said that the ASI is violating existing restoration rules by not using the material used in the original carving. “The original stone used in Konark Sun Temple is being replaced by different and cheaper type of stones, while the original stone is still scattered all over the place. One has to dig a little to find them”.

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