A man crosses the drain that has come up in front of Rajarani temple. Picture by Ashwinee Pati

Bhubaneswar, Sept. 17: The Archaeological Survey of India fears that change in the levels of roads and drains will expose several historical monuments here to the threat of waterlogging.

The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) says that ongoing renovation work will block the discharge of rainwater from the monuments and create waterlogging.

The 12th century Megheswar temple on the Ravi Talkies-Sai Temple road is already battling this crisis, while the 11th century Rajarani and the Mukteswar temples face similar threats.

The road near Rajarani temple is being rebuilt. But with the public works department not taking proper care, the drain level has become six inches higher than the temple compound.

“The way the PWD is rebuilding roads, historical monuments such as Rajarani and Megheshwar temples and Mukteswar on the Puri Road will soon turn into pools of water. Considering the importance of these monuments, the state government should pay heed to our advice about proper scraping of the road surfaces before they are rebuilt so that the height does not increase each time they are renovated,” said ASI superintending archaeologist, Bhubaneswar circle, Bhuvan Vikrama.

Claiming that the ASI authorities had already sent missives to communicate their concern the PWD engineers, Vikrama said: “The Rajarani temple is one of the most beautiful and well-preserved monuments in Bhubaneswar, but the drain and road-widening work is being carried out without paying heed to it. Since the drain is at a higher level than the temple compound, rainwater will accumulate on its premises.”

At the 10th century Mukteswar temple, ASI has to pump out water after heavy showers.

A joint initiative of the ASI, Odisha State Archaeology and two departments of the state government have resolved for the time being waterlogging problem at the 7th century Baital temple.

PWD chief engineer (roads) B.C. Pradhan, however, said: “I have joined just about a month ago. I will check with my colleagues if we have received any such communication from the ASI. We will do the needful to protect the monuments.”