New Delhi: The Archaeological Survey of India has suggested a change in the course of River Mandakini to protect the Kedarnath Temple as the river bed has become higher than the village area.
ASI has been given the responsibility of restoring the Kedarnath Temple post the devastation caused by the June floods in Uttarakhand but the adverse climatic condition is delaying their job.
“Our reports says the river bed has become higher than the village area in Kedarnath. We have been suggesting that either they change the course of the river so it should not affect the temple in future,” Culture Minister Chandresh Kumari Katoch told PTI.
Declining to set a timeframe for the restoration work, she said the offside work can begin only next year due to adverse weather conditions.
“GSI has given a report and it is our feeling also that if we do not know the actual condition of the foundation, we cannot start working offsite. So, we have started restoration work from inside like cleaning up and improving the condition of the temple,” she said.
