The Archaeological Survey of India has taken up paper-pulp treatment exercise at the Shore Temple complex in Mamallapuram, to get rid of salt particles deposited on the world heritage monument.
The exercise of cleaning the Pallava-era monument began with chemical water washing to remove dust and other deposits, and fungus or black-mass formation due to vagaries of nature.
After cleaning, paper-pulp coating will be applied on the surface in order to extract salt particles that might have penetrated the stones through minute pores caused by the corroding action of sand-bearing winds from the sea, an official said. This will be repeated three or four times or more in order to ensure complete extraction of saline deposits. Finally, a Silicon-based water-repellent chemical coating will be applied to protect the monument from the vagaries of nature, the official said.
