ASI sites in Wayanad remain neglected

Janardhana and Vishnu temples declared national monuments 6 years ago

The Janardhana and Vishnu temples at Punchavayal, near Panamaram, in Wayanad remain neglected despite the Union government declaring the heritage sites as national monuments six years ago. The restoration works of those dilapidated sites remain on paper, blamed on the alleged negligence of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI). The ASI declared the Janardhana and Vishnu temples (Janardhanagudi and Vishnugudi), temples at a distance of nearly 700 metres, national monuments in 2015 and erected bill boards to the same near them, A. Rajan, a farmer near the site said. A section of the ‘gopuram’ of the Janardhana temple collapsed in rain seven years ago, destroying sculptures on the stonewalls, he said. “As the dilapidated huge stone structure with intricate carvings in the middle of the temple complex may collapse any time, a quick intervention of ASI to conserve it is imperative,” he said.