Bhubaneswar, Nov 6: Encroachments and lack of proper conservation is threatening the World Heritage Site status for Black Pagoda Konark in Puri district of eastern Indian Odisha state.
It is seemingly at risk amidst lack of renovation and maintenance.
A major tourist destination in the State, the 12th century monument is also gradually loosing its sheen as rampant encroachment by unscrupulous people continues unabated.
Illegal shops and other encroachments by locals are marring its beauty.
The monument has been covered by Archaeological Survey of India’s (ASI) iron scaffoldings since five years for maintenance purposes.
Apprehensions have been raised by historians and archaeologist that the temple may lose its status if adequate care was not taken early by all those who matter.
Notably, the State Government and Puri District Administration had evicted the encroachers around the temple.
However, locals started encroaching the land surrounding the temple again in 2013.
State Tourism Minister Ashok Panda however said that the scaffoldings erected by the Archeological Survey of India (ASI) will be removed as soon as the conservation work is over.
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) conferred the world heritage site status to the temple in 1985.
