(a) whether the Government are aware that valuable worth and idols stolen from Lingaraj Temple in Bhubaneswar recently;
(b) if so, the details thereof;
(c) whether any inquiry has been conducted by Archaeological Survey of India in the matter; and
(d) if so, the outcome of the enquiry and the action taken against the guilty officials?
MINISER OF TOURISM AND CULTURE (SHRI JAGMOHAN)
(a) & (b) The Government are aware that some silver objects, utensils and ornaments were stolen from the temple on 05.11.2001.
(c) & (d) The protection of the Lingaraj Temple by the Archaeological Survey of
India is governed by an agreement executed with the trustees of the temple.
Under this agreement, the Archaeological Survey of India is responsible only
for the conservation of the temple; other administrative matters including the
security of the Shrine vest with the Temple authorities and the State
Government.