"I requested the government to provide land for the

proposed second Sun Temple at Konark as the 13th century structure is in the process of decay. We can certainly build the second Konark temple," said Mohapatra, who has carved the gigantic 18 feet long and 15 feet high Konark Horse presently installed at Master Canteen Square here. Mohapatra's Konark Wheel in red sand stone was placed at the inaugural ceremony of India International Trade Fair in 1980 and now put at Ashoka Hotel in New Delhi. "We are successors of the artists who had created Konark Temple in 13th century. Therefore, we have traditional now-how to play with stones," Mohapatra said, adding, Odias were talented enough to create another Sun Temple. Mohaptra's proposal to the state government has received statewide acclaim. The students of Gangadhar Meher (Autonomous) College in Sambalpur yesterday gave a cheque of Rs 1 lakh to the artist for construction of the second Konark temple. Mohapatra was invited to the college for felicitation for being winner of Padma Bibhusan award.