The only leaning temple of country seeks aid from govt for development work

The temple of Huma is one of only two leaning temples in the world. It has sought financial assistance from the government for its development work and other activities on the premises of the temple.

Sambalpur (Odisha): The leaning temple of Huma in Odisha's Sambalpur district has sought financial assistance from the government for its development work and other activities on the premises of the temple.

The temple is one of only two leaning temples in the world. It is located in Huma, a village situated on the banks of the Mahanadi, 23 km south of Sambalpur in the Indian state of Odisha. The temple is dedicated to the Hindu god Lord Bimaleshwar.

According to locals and temple administration, beautification, conservation measures and various development works of the shrine had stopped halfway. While the lighting arrangement in the temple is in total disarray, there is not even a urinal for the women.

The local people have alleged that the development works in the surrounding areas of the temple should also have been undertaken.

Speaking to ETV Bharat, Historian Deepak Kumar Panda, said," Unless conservation measures are taken up now, the shrine might face bigger danger in future. It is also not an easily acceptable idea that a weak foundation might have caused the leaning of the temple. There may perhaps have been the interior displacement of the rocky bed on which it stands, either due to flood currents in the river Mahanadi, or earthquakes."

"In the year 2014-15, a team of INTCH under the advice of the thirteenth Finance Commission had taken up the restoration and conservation work of the temple for the archaeological department of the State Government. The power to take up conservation work in the temple lies with the state government. The archaeological wing of the state's culture department is the authorized body to take up restoration and conservation measures in the temple, " Panda said.

A number of small and big cracks are visible in the main wall of the temple as also in the walls of other temples located in its four sides. According to experts, within the boundaries of the temple, everything is in a tilted condition, including the boundaries themselves, and the villagers and priests say that the angle of inclination has not changed over last 40 or 50 years. The tilt may be due to a geological reason; the underlying rock may be uneven in structure. The angle of inclination of the tilt has not yet been measured.