Bhubaneswar, Dec. 18: Cracks have developed in the 13th century Sun Temple at Konark.

The confirmation comes from a member of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) delegation that inspected the temple yesterday following reports from local residents that they had spotted two cracks in the edifice earlier this month.

Local residents said that almost every other day cracks of various sizes appear on the temple. They said there had also been instances of stones falling off the monument. The ASI, however, did not show much attention to their alarm call, they said.

B.K. Rath, one of the ASI working team members that inspected the site yesterday, said: "We inspected the temple and even climbed up to the edifice to examine the structure." He said that even a mild earthquake measuring three on the Richter scale could bring the temple down.

"The ASI should not delay conservation work on the temple," Rath added.

Another member of the ASI inspection team told The Telegraph on condition of anonymity that during yesterday's inspection they had spotted a few cracks that required immediate attention.

Between 1901 and 1906, the then British government had filled up sand inside the temple and closed it off.

In 1997, the ASI held an international conference on this issue and recommended 32 measures for the conservation of the temple including opening up the mouth and a proposal to go inside to it for physical inspection to see the nature of threat to the temple, Rath said.

"Although 20 years have passed since the conference, no serious intervention has been made in this matter" Rath said. "We have already conducted an endoscopic photography of the temple. Now, an attempt is being made to open an entry point from the western side for physical inspection."

Refusing to comment on the recent cracks, superintending archaeologist of the Bhubaneswar circle of ASI H.S. Nayak said: "We too are concerned about its conservation. We have entrusted the job to the Central Building Research Institute and are waiting for their report. Besides, the working committee team will also submit its report to us."

In the past, the ASI had allegedly used chemicals for preservation of the temple without proper technical guidance because of which artistic sculptures on its stones are fading.

"One cannot even recognise the art inscribed on the stones. More than 40 per cent of it has already faded and beyond recognition," said Rabi Bahinipati, a member of the Konark Surakshya Samiti that is working for the protection of the temple.

Members of the samiti said loosening of the sand packed inside the temple (in the inner chamber of the sanctorum), was the major reason for the development of cracks.

State culture minister Ashok Panda told The Telegraph: "I hope the ASI gives more attention to the conservation of the Sun temple."

In 2009, chief minister Naveen Patnaik had taken up the issue of conservation of the temple with then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

Citing reasons for stones falling off, president of the Konark Surakshya Samiti Badal Das said that besides falling victim to natural decline due to lack of proper care and maintenance, stones frequently fall off as the ASI has engaged unskilled labourers to put the iron scaffolding around the monument.

Das also questioned why the ASI team did not include the samiti's members while it was inspecting the temple's structure yesterday. "We had an argument with the ASI team on the issue," said Das, adding that his organisation would soon send a petition to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and chief minister Naveen Patnaik demanding protection of the temple.