With water-logging posing a serious threat to the historic Sun Temple at Konark, an expert team sent by Orissa government inspected the heritage site to examine the drainage system there.
A six-member team comprising of engineers and officials from the government and State-owned Orissa Construction Corporation (OCC) on Saturday visited the 13th century monument, about 65 km from Bhubaneswar, officials said on Sunday.
As incessant rains for the last couple of days kept the world famous Sun Temple submerged disappointing tourists, members of the delegation said a plan to drain out water accumulated around the structure would be submitted soon.
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Since Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) looks after preservation of the historical monument, the team is expected to present the proposed plan for its concurrence, they said.
A proposal to construct a concrete drain measuring about two km to connect the monument site with a nulla (drain), close to Bhubaneswar-Konark road, a senior official said, adding the idea is to drain out water from temple to nullah.
According to conservative estimates the work is expected to cost about Rs. one crore, officials said.
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Since there is a protected area with a radius of 120 metres around the structure, ASI should either build the portion of the drain falling in this zone or allow the State government to construct it, they said.
Following the spot inspection by the expert team at the world heritage site, State government is likely to convene a joint meeting soon to finalise the plan, an official said.
Welcoming the move, cultural activist Rabindra Bahinipati, who has also been campaigning for proper conservation of the Sun Temple, said water-logging near the structure is being faced for the last 10-12 years, but no serious effort was made to stop it.