India: Seepage in Ajanta worries Archaeological Survey of India

by Syed Rizwanullah, TIMES NEWS NETWORK, Aug 6, 2006

AURANGABAD, India -- What time could not do for several centuries in Ajanta, heavy rainfall over the last three years threatens to do.Priceless Buddhist cave paintings at this 2nd century BC world heritage site are increasingly facing the threat of being damaged by rain water that seeps in during monsoon.

<< Part of the Ajanta Caves heritage, now threatened by water seepage erosion

Although this problem is not new, it has gained alarming proportions since 2003 when the region received a record heavy rainfall. Since then, whenever it rains, at least 10 of the 30 important caves leak, forcing the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) staff to keep utensils and buckets beneath the leakage points to collect the rain water.

This year, the situation has aggravated to such an extent that almost a dozen caves, specially the painted ones, have begun showing signs of water seepage whenever the area gets heavy rains. An Archaeological Survey of India team, led by deputy superintending archeologist Manager Singh, has been hunting out the leakage points to provide a clear path for the water to fall into buckets through previously filleted points.

This is to prevent the seepage from spreading to paintings in the caves, superintending archeologist Veerbhadra Rao told TOI. The filleted points are those where paintings do not exist they have either vanished in the past or the area is either cemented or edged to avoid further loss.

When the leakages were first spotted in 1920-25, the then authorities introduced water channels at the top of mountain to avoid percolation of water into the caves.

This monsoon, the authorities found that water has begun seeping through a new point in the the extensively painted cave 17, apart from four places in the verandah. While Archaeological Survey of India had approached the Geological Survey of India (GSI) officials for assistance, GSI experts, after several visits to the caves suggested that contour drains be constructed on top of the mountains featuring precious caves.

"We have also approached Structural Engineering Research Centre at Chennai for guidance in this regard," Rao said. Conservationists are most worried about the situation in the verandah of cave 17 where paintings could suffer damage due to water leakage.

"On August 30, 2003 about 6 to 8-inch part of a painting fell from the beam and the ceiling of the entrance pillar. Water was found to be spreading through the surrounding cement mortar to nearby paintings making them weak.

The authorities had then also found that the painted plaster had been lost and cement mortar was working as carrier of water to five-six feet of surrounding paintings," sources said.

The problem was brought to the notice of joint director of the department R K Sharma and he directed Singh to take appropriate measures, sources added. Accordingly, attention was paid to save the famous elephant painting in the veranda of cave 17.

The officials concerned then "opened" an outlet for water in the mortar and since then the water has stopped damaging the painting and drops directly into the buckets from the seepage point without spreading to other areas.

We Need Your Help to Train the
Buddhist AI Chat Bot
NORBU!
(Neural Operator for Responsible Buddhist Understanding)



For Malaysians and Singaporeans, please make your donation to the following account:

Account Name: Bodhi Vision
Account No:. 2122 00000 44661
Bank: RHB

The SWIFT/BIC code for RHB Bank Berhad is: RHBBMYKLXXX
Address: 11-15, Jalan SS 24/11, Taman Megah, 47301 Petaling Jaya, Selangor
Phone: 603-9206 8118

Note: Please indicate your name in the payment slip. Thank you.


Dear Friends in the Dharma,

We seek your generous support to help us train NORBU, the word's first Buddhist AI Chat Bot.

Here are some ways you can contribute to this noble cause:

One-time Donation or Loan: A single contribution, regardless of its size, will go a long way in helping us reach our goal and make the Buddhist LLM a beacon of wisdom for all.

How will your donation / loan be used? Download the NORBU White Paper for details.



For Malaysians and Singaporeans, please make your donation to the following account:

Account Name: Bodhi Vision
Account No:. 2122 00000 44661
Bank: RHB

The SWIFT/BIC code for RHB Bank Berhad is: RHBBMYKLXXX
Address: 11-15, Jalan SS 24/11, Taman Megah, 47301 Petaling Jaya, Selangor
Phone: 603-9206 8118

Note: Please indicate your purpose of payment (loan or donation) in the payment slip. Thank you.

Once payment is banked in, please send the payment slip via email to: editor@buddhistchannel.tv. Your donation/loan will be published and publicly acknowledged on the Buddhist Channel.

Spread the Word: Share this initiative with your friends, family and fellow Dharma enthusiasts. Join "Friends of Norbu" at: https://www.facebook.com/groups/norbuchatbot. Together, we can build a stronger community and create a positive impact on a global scale.

Volunteer: If you possess expertise in AI, natural language processing, Dharma knowledge in terms of Buddhist sutras in various languages or related fields, and wish to lend your skills, please contact us. Your knowledge and passion could be invaluable to our project's success.

Your support is part of a collective effort to preserve and disseminate the profound teachings of Buddhism. By contributing to the NORBU, you become a "virtual Bodhisattva" to make Buddhist wisdom more accessible to seekers worldwide.

Thank you for helping to make NORBU a wise and compassionate Buddhist Chatbot!

May you be blessed with inner peace and wisdom,

With deepest gratitude,

Kooi F. Lim
On behalf of The Buddhist Channel Team


Note: To date, we have received the following contributions for NORBU:
US$ 75 from Gary Gach (Loan)
US$ 50 from Chong Sim Keong
MYR 300 from Wilson Tee
MYR 500 from Lim Yan Pok
MYR 50 from Oon Yeoh
MYR 200 from Ooi Poh Tin
MYR 300 from Lai Swee Pin
MYR 100 from Ong Hooi Sian
MYR 1,000 from Fam Sin Nin
MYR 500 from Oh teik Bin
MYR 300 from Yeoh Ai Guat
MYR 300 from Yong Lily
MYR 50 from Bandar Utama Buddhist Society
MYR 1,000 from Chiam Swee Ann
MYR 1,000 from Lye Veei Chiew
MYR 1,000 from Por Yong Tong
MYR 80 from Lee Wai Yee
MYR 500 from Pek Chee Hen
MYR 300 from Hor Tuck Loon
MYR 1,000 from Wise Payments Malaysia Sdn Bhd
MYR 200 from Teo Yen Hua
MYR 500 from Ng Wee Keat
MYR 10,000 from Chang Quai Hung, Jackie (Loan)
MYR 10,000 from K. C. Lim & Agnes (Loan)
MYR 10,000 from Juin & Jooky Tan (Loan)
MYR 100 from Poh Boon Fong (on behalf of SXI Buddhist Students Society)
MYR 10,000 from Fam Shan-Shan (Loan)
MYR 10,000 from John Fam (Loan)
MYR 500 from Phang Cheng Kar
MYR 100 from Lee Suat Yee
MYR 500 from Teo Chwee Hoon (on behalf of Lai Siow Kee)
MYR 200 from Mak Yuen Chau

We express our deep gratitude for the support and generosity.

If you have any enquiries, please write to: editor@buddhistchannel.tv


TOP