Odisha Sun Times Bureau
Bhubaneswar, Jul 31: 

A day after lightning strikes damaged famed Jameshwar Temple and burnt down the flags atop Ananta Vasudeva Temple of Odisha capital, BJP today wrote to Union Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Dharmendra Pradhan requesting him to direct ASI to set up earthing systems in the centuries-old shrines.

Stone

“The mishap at the 13th century shrine, also considered to be the brother-in-law’s place of Lord Lingaraj, was a direct result of inaction and sheer negligence on parts of ASI – that has been entrusted with its upkeep. It is evident from the fact that a minimal facility such as an earthing system has not been installed in the temple, which could have avoided the incident last evening,” wrote former Bhubaneswar BJP President Amiya Dash in his letter to Pradhan.

He further added that similar situation persists in Lord Lingaraj temple where even though the earthing has been set up, the cabling has been left bare and system non-functional.

Besides, earthing issue persists across many other temples in the periphery, Dash pointed out.

BJP requested Pradhan to intervene and direct ASI to install earthing systems at the temples and ask the agency to do the necessary maintenance in a timely fashion so that the architectural pride of the state can be preserved.

It may be mentioned here that ASI executive Pradeep Kumar Rout yesterday had conducted a field survey of the affected temples after the incident and had assured to refit the stones.