Disturbed over reports of replacement of stone carvings with plain stones at the Konark Sun Temple by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Sunday urged Union Culture Minister Mahesh Sharma to look into the sensitive matter and ask the ASI to preserve the temple appropriately.
The Chief Minister mentioned about a news report published in a vernacular daily on November 9.
“It has been mentioned in the newspaper report that 40 per cent of the artistic stone carvings of the existing Konark Sun Temple have been replaced by the ASI with plain stones,” Patnaik stated.
“The news report is a matter of worry for all. The temple deserves more attention from the ASI than what it has got. I would request you to cause an enquiry into the matter and also direct ASI to take appropriate steps immediately for preservation and conservation of this magnificent world heritage monument,” wrote Patnaik.