KSS activists lock Sun temple gate to protest hike in entry fee
06 May, Konark (Odisha)
The activists of Konark Suraksha Samiti (KSS), a local organisation in Konark fighting for the preservation and conservation of the Sun Temple ,a world heritage monument, Friday locked the main gate of the Temple protesting the hike in the entry fee to the historic monument.
The KSS also observed a 12 hour bandh in Konark to protest the Archeaological Survey of India(ASI) entrusted with the conservation and preservation of the 13th century monument, reintroducing the hike in entry fee of the famous Sun temple which was suspended for a month by the district administration.
The KSS members sat on a dharna in front of the historic monument and locked the main gate to lodge its strong protest against the hike in the entry fee to the monument. The KSS had last month also locked the main gate of the Sun temple when the ASI authority had hiked the entry fee for the domestic tourist from Rs10 to Rs 30 and doubled the fee for the foreign tourist from Rs 250 to Rs 500.
The strike was withdrawn after the district administration put the new entry fee rate on hold for a month and assured the KSS activities to consider their demand.
KSS convenor Badal Das said they decided to resort to dharna and locked the main gate of the Sun temple today as the ASI reintroduced the hiked entry fee ignoring the sentiments of the people of the state.
Mr Das said the ASI has not provided adequate facilities for the tourists visiting the Sun temple daily.The KSS has also been demanding that there should be free entry to the monument on one day in a week.
He said the KSS will continue the protest till the demands are fulfilled by the ASI authority. Due to the agitation hundreds oif domestic and foreign tourists who had come for far off places to have a glimpse of the majestic Sun temple, returned with much disappointed as they were not allowed by the bandh supporters and the KSS activists.
Meanwhile ,Odisha Tourism and Culture Minister Ashok Chandra Panda had also urged the Union Tourism and Culture Minister to reconsider the hike in the entry fee to the Sun Temple to give a boost to the tourism in the state as Sun temple attracts a large number of both domestic and foreign tourists every year.