It has been for more than two years that the Government has been talking about removing encroachments around temples in Old Town area in the City to prevent water-logging on their premises during monsoon. But it has remained a mere lip service so far.
Like the last two years, this year too water pumps are the only tools the conservators have to use to prevent water-logging in temples during rain and subsequent damage to the structures.Every year in monsoon, water-logging is a common problem in temples like Vaitaal, Megheswar and to some extent Parshurameswar.
Encroachments around these temples in the form of concrete structures have completely blocked the outlet for rainwater from the shrines. As a result, water accumulates on the premises damaging the structures. Although the encroachments are in clear violation of the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, 1958, officials choose to remain mute spectators. The Act prohibits construction of houses in such close proximity to a conserved monument.
In June 2011, senior officials of the Culture Department, Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), State Archaeology wing, Bhubaneswar Development Authority (BDA) and Bhubaneswar Municipal Council (BMC) visited these temples and decided to undertake a survey to find out the extent of encroachments and unblock the drainage channels as a long term solution to the problem.
Besides water-logging, the team members had found that these structures were facing problems like water seepage, structural damage and corrosion. Chief Secretary Bijay Kumar Patnaik, who was also a part of the team, had asked the officials concerned to ensure that encroachments are removed with immediate effect.
But little has been done till now except installation of the pump sets. Cleaning and renovation of drainage channels of the temples too have remained a non-starter.
Officials said even as all the three temples are under care of ASI, the latter does not have authority to remove the encroachments. Jeevan Patnaik, Deputy Director of ASI said, “Though pump sets solve the problem of water-logging during monsoon, it is not a permanent solution. For that, we have to address the unplanned urbanisation around temples which should be a collective effort of BDA, BMC and the Culture Department.”
He said this year, pump sets have already been installed in the three temples by ASI engineers to drain out rain water. “We have approached other line departments to clear the drainage outlets as well,” he added.