Konark, April 22: Sand removal from the Konark Sun Temple is set to begin shortly, with the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) confirming that all technical preparations have been completed.

Earlier, detailed scanning of the temple was conducted, followed by drilling on the western wall to assess the condition of the sand inside. Samples collected from the site were sent to the laboratory of Indian Institute of Technology Madras on December 8 last year for analysis. The report confirmed that the sand inside remains stable and that its removal will not pose any structural risk to the temple.

Based on the findings, ASI has initiated final-stage planning for the operation. As per the sectional design, a 9-foot-wide opening will be created by cutting stone on the western wall at a height of around 80 feet to construct an access tunnel.

For safety reasons, no personnel will enter the tunnel. Instead, an automated robotic trolley will be deployed to access the sanctum, extract the sand, and transport it downward. The mechanical platform required for the process has already been completed.

The sand will be removed in phases and brought down to the temple base. It will then be transferred through pipelines to the northwest corner of the temple complex for secure storage. The entire operation will be carried out under the supervision of senior experts, ASI officials said.