Bhopal
: A 1,000-year-old dam in temple city Khajuraho - a Unesco World Heritage Site - has been irreparably damaged by a 'beautification project' being carried out by the civic corporation
The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has issued notice to Khajuraho chief municipal officer for alleged 'illegal mining' near the ASI-protected Vamana temple. Civic officials, however, claim that the work is being done with valid permissions.
Vamana temple, dedicated to the fifth avatar of Lord Vishnu, was built between 1050 AD and 1075 AD, and is part of the Khajuraho Group of Monuments, a Unesco site. There is a pond near the temple, which the civic body is 'beautifying', and close to it is a dam, dating to around the same time as the Chandela Dynasty temple.
Vamana temple is protected under Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Rules, 1959. No mining or construction work can be carried out in 100m radius and 200m from the periphery. The dam is around 70 metres to the west of the protected site.
ASI Jabalpur circle has issued a notice to Khajuraho chief municipal officer Basant Chaturvedi on the damage to the dam, and sought a reply within seven days on why action should not be taken against him.
Asked about the notice, superintending archaeologist-Jabalpur circle Shiva Kant Bajpayee said, "We are taking action as per the norms," and refused to elaborate.
Work near dam started after NoC from ASI: Officials
Civic officials refuted the claims. “We have all the valid permissions. Work was started after taking a no-objection certificate from ASI. We are carrying out beautification of the pond under AMRUT-II scheme,” CMO Chaturvedi told TOI. Asked about the ASI notice, Chaturvedi said, “I have not received any such notice.”
District collector Sandeep GR said, “I will take a look once I get a copy of the notice”.
"The dam that the civic body has destroyed is historic. It is nearly contemporary to the temple. This is a serious offence. I have complained to subdivisional magistrate and local ASI officials. I will also file a complaint with ASI headquarters. If needed, I will move high court,” Khajuraho ward 14 corporator Yogendra Singh Chandel told TOI. The structure is in his ward.
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