Concerned over conservation of the 13th century Sun Temple at Konark, the Orissa government has asked the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) to immediately submit its verification report and take up preservation work.

A high power committee of the ASI headed by its joint director general B R Mani inspected the temple on October 20 and 21, but the government was yet to get a report on the findings, Culture minister Debi Prasad Mishra said today while replying to a question in the assembly.

The ASI's inspection took place after Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik drew Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's attention that the Black Pagoda, declared a World Heritage Monument by UNESCO, was neglected.

Joint verifications had been taken place at the Sun Temple on June 17 and October 13 following reports that stones were falling off, he said.

Though Konark temple came under the protection of the ASI in 1915, the conservation, preservation and development was taken up after creation of Bhubaneswar circle of ASI in 1985.