Garbha-griha work not even 10% completed; no competent authority from the ASI present at the site : Ha Bha Pa Ramakrushna Vir Maharaj

‘Warakari Sampraday Paeek Sangh’ inspects work taken up under ‘Shri Vitthal-Rukmini temple development plan’

Pandharpur – The work being carried out under ‘Shri Vitthal Rukmini temple development plan’ was inspected by ‘Warakari Sampradaya Paeek Sangh (WSPS)’. Ha Bha Pa Ramakrushna Vir Maharaj of WSPS reported many serious flaws noticed during the inspection. Devotees are not allowed to have darshan of Deity Shri Vitthal because of work being carried out in the garbha-griha but the work is not completed even 10%. He added that the work, though claimed to be carried out under the guidance of ASI, had no competent officer present at the site.

Ha Bha Pa Devavrat (Rana) Maharaj Vaskar, Raghunath Maharaj Kabir, Nagesh Maharaj Bagade, Shyam Maharaj Ukhalikar, Bhanudas Maharaj Chaturmase, Dnyaneshwar Maharaj Tare, besides Ganesh and Purushottam Suresh Lanke, the members of ‘Shri Vitthal Rukmini Sanrakshan Kruti Samiti’ were also present on the occasion.

Other serious flaws observed by the sangh :

1. The number of workers where the work is going on is inadequate and there is a shortage of skilled workers.

2. Shri Vitthal’s ‘Pada-Sparsh Darshan’ was stopped after the granite was removed from the garbha-griha, but no further work has been carried out even after 45 days since then. Work in the garbha-griha is not being carried out on a priority basis.

3. Work for replacing the stone flooring in the temple hall, Gajendra Mandap, Bajirao Padsali, etc has been taken up together; therefore, every work is incomplete.

4. The reasons for replacing old tiles under the limestone flooring in the temple hall, though they were in good condition, are not known. In their place, tiles which are not very strong are being fixed. A few old stones, which were not in good condition, could have been changed or conserved.

5. This type of work requires supervising engineers with adequate knowledge in the field, but 1-2 new inexperienced engineers were present at the site.

6. The temple committee set up after 1985 has carried out unnecessary construction in the temple and premises, which has resulted in defacing the old construction. The use of bricks-cement, iron nails, screws, etc., while fixing machines like air-conditioners, etc, has damaged the old stones. Many stones could have developed cracks due to such work as observed at the site since it seems to be relatively recent.

The offices set up by the temple committee in the temple hall have not been moved

The silver work was removed to revive the old look. But the offices set up in the temple hall by spending millions of rupees have not been touched; although the temple development plan shows the shifting of these offices.

Editorial Perspectives