A team from the Lokayukta arrived at Shri Mahakal Lok in Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh to inspect the damage caused by a recent thunderstorm and rain. The team, which included engineers from the Smart City Company, scrutinized more than half-a-dozen statues that were damaged, including those of Sapt Rishis and Tripurasura.
The inspection was prompted by a complaint by Congress MLA Mahesh Parmar over a parking slot constructed after the formation of Shri Mahakal Lok. The collapsed statues came under scrutiny as part of the investigation. The Lokayukta’s decision to investigate the incident caused a political controversy.
The inspection team, led by technical expert MS Johri, began by examining empty pedestals from where the statues had fallen. They then examined the base pillars of the idols before examining different idols themselves. The team kept their distance from the local media during the inspection.
The Mahakal Lok Corridor, one of the longest in the country, has around 108 aesthetically ornate pillars made of intricately-carved sandstones that depict ‘Anand Tandav Swaroop,’ a form of Lord Shiva’s dance, through around 200 statues and murals. The first phase of the Rs 856 crore corridor, inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in October last year, cost Rs 351 crore.
In a separate incident, devotees and media persons had a narrow escape when the dome-shaped top placed on pillars of Nandi Mandapam of Shri Mahakal Lok suddenly fell down.
Overall, the investigations and inspections are an important step towards ensuring the safety and preservation of cultural landmarks like Shri Mahakal Lok.
