Delay in repairing cracks developed in the founding rock of the historic Purnagiri Temple, located at a height of about 3,000 metres above the sea level in Champawat, has left people and the administration worried with the historic three-month Purnagiri Mela beginning in the temple premises on March 7. The administration has taken initiatives to repair things, anticipating large footfalls of the pilgrims during the annual religious mela.
However, the founding rock of the temple developing cracks is not a new development. That the founding rock keeps weakening from within came to light about eight years ago. But the officials concerned failed to repair the temple base. They said there is no immediate threat to the temple and its surroundings from these cracks. However, the experts said things should not be taken that casually, given Uttarakhand's fragile geographical character. Solution must be found to arrest the trend of cracks developing and deepening in the founding rock of the temple, they added.
Treatment of the cracks is necessary to ensure that the pilgrims who would throng the shrine in enormous number during the annual congregation do not come to harms. Besides, the safety of others who come here all the year round should be taken care of too, the people residing in the locality said. However, the district administration has sat up to address the issue with the mela drawing near.
Deependra Kumar Chaudhary, District Magistrate, Champawat, asked the PWD officials concerned to expedite the process of treatment of the cracks and directed them for seeking approval from the Government for the same soon. He also asked the officials concerned to conduct proper study of the present conditions of the founding rocks of the temple and prepare a work plan accordingly and seek permission of the Government for starting the work promptly. The officials concerned of the Champwat district administration said, Indian Geotechnical Services, a Delhi based firm, will do the survey of the cracks developed in the temple's founding rock.