Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, January 28:
As part of the Kangla restoration and renovation programme, International Council of Monuments and Sites (Icomos), India Chapter has deputed five of its skilled workers to begin conservation works of the partly crumbled Shri Govindajee temple located inside the sacred site.
The workers deputed by the Council are currently engaged in separating the different sizes of bricks of the temple.
The workers from West Bengal said they started the work since January 14 under the supervision of one Mukherjee, an Icomos engineer.
The bricks retrieved from the crumbled temple building would be used in reconstructing the temple structures to its original entity, said the workers who informed that five more workers would be arriving to expedite the conservation/restoration works.
When contacted, sources in the State Archaeology said the Icomos Engineer had already submitted the estimated cost to be incurred for the conservation/restoration works of the temple including roofing of the Bheitop among others.
For clearance of the estimated amount, the State Finance Department has forwarded relevant documents to the regional office of Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) at Guwahati, it added.
Next on the agenda in the Kangla restoration project will be reinstallation of two mythical animal (Kangla Shas) near the entrance of the uttra, the source informed.
The size of the Kangla Shas, which is also the State emblem, will resemble the same structure installed during the rule of the then Manipur Kings.
The source also stated that besides conservation of the Govindajee temple emphasis is also given on new construction of a Pakhangba shrine for which construction activities are on currently.
It is pertinent to mention that the newly constituted Kangla Fort Board in its meeting had approved handing over of the conservation works to Icomos.
The Kangla Fort was handed over to the Manipur Government in a formal function by the Director General of Assam Rifles in the presence of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in November last.
It is also worth mentioning that even before the physical shifting of the Assam Rifles from the Kangla the Centre had earmarked Rs 11 crore for renovation of the historic sites and building inside it.