Local residents differ. Early on Saturday morning, they saw the stone hanging precariously from the spire of the 13th century temples's Jagmohan (the second section). They reported it to the ASI but nothing happened.

``I don't have any information about it,'' ASI Deputy Superintendent (Archaeology) T J Alone told The Indian Express. He added that the ASI was taking all steps to protect the monument, as per recommendations of the expert committee, which met in Puri last year.

The ASI also doesn't seem particularly concerned that in 1977, a similar incident happened when a stone slab fell off, again from the north-eastern side of the Jagmohan. Locals allege repair work began only in 1993 and is still going on.

Therefore, it's not a surprise that major portions of the temple'sinteriors are covered with algae and shrubs that have now formed intricate patterns on its walls, thereby rendering the entire structure weak. And all this despite regular ``inspections'' by ASI staff.

A K Mohanty, ASI Conservation Assistant, offers an explanation. He first claims that they know nothing about Saturday's falling slab, and goes on to add: ``Even if the slab was clinging, we couldn't have touched it until we got the final report from the United Nations Education, Science and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO).''

The UNESCO has sanctioned Rs 16 lakh to help repair and maintain the temple. Of that, Mohanty said, the ASI has already received Rs 10 lakh, and the UNESCO's report was expected by the end of the year.

About ASI's lackadaisical approach, former chairman of Konark's Notified Area Council (NAC) and president of the Konark Vikas Parishad Prafulla Routray alleged: ``The ASI staff lack motivation to protect the temple.'' He said the ASI has done nothing to repair broken idols, exceptreplacing them with cheap quality stones. There are many talented artisans in Konark but the ASI has never shown any interest, he added.

ASI officials have a different story to tell. They allege that unauthorised construction, encroachments and felling of trees undertaken by the Konark NAC inside the protected area -- 300 meters around the main temple building -- have taken a heavy toll on the monument. And as charges and counter charges flow, it is the Sun Temple that suffers.