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The Ministry of Culture has taken several measures to control weathering of stone members of the Konark Temple, for conservation of the monument. These include,
i). Soluble salts are removed by repeated paper pulp treatment.
ii). Micro-vegetational and fungicidal growth are being treated chemically.
iii). Water tightening and underpinning of the structure are carried out using traditional mortar.
iv). Missing stone members of the adhishtana were restored using the original stone members found scattered in the temple complex or with new stones, if necessary.
The architectural members of the temple built of Khondolite, a soft stone, is subject to constant wind action as the temple is located close to the sea. The salt laden sea wind causes surface damage to the stone members. This also causes crystallization of soluble salts leading to weathering and corrosion of the stone members.
This Information was given by Minister of Information & Broadcasting and Culture, Shri S. Jaipal Reddy in written reply to a question in Rajya Sabha.
RS/AS
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