ASI condemns false reports on conservation of Jain temple

Archaeological Survey of India Circle office today condemned the "false" reports in a section of the press on resumption of conservation work at a Jain Temple in Sultanbathery in Wayanad District on October 16.
"Some people with the support of the media, are making a hue and cry that ASI is damaging the temple by spending a huge amount of Rs 1.5 crore which is far from the truth", T Sreelakshmi, Superintending Archaeologist, said in a statement here.
It created a tense situation in and around the temple, she added.
Sreelakshmi clarified that the estimate for the work was about Rs 16 lakh which included water tightening of the leaking roof and providing ramp for the physically challenged.

Reports appearing yesterday in a section of the press had stated that ASI had broken the roof of the Jain Temple, popularly known as Kianganad Basti,for repairs and maintenance following a minor leak on the roof, on October 16.
The reports said a portion of the temple, believed to have been built in the 14th Century, was broken to make way for entry of heavy machinery. Following strong protest by the public, Sultanbathery Tahasildar, N K Abraham stayed the work on the temple.
It was better for the media to confirm the factual position of the matter before publishing such reports as they have created "confusion" and "doubts" in the minds of the general public, she added.

ASI adopts its own scientific conservation methods and such "false" reports questions its credibility, Sreelakhsmi said.