EROSION / CONSERVING HISTORICAL RUINS

B49m allocated to save temple

SUNTHORN PONGPAO

Ayutthaya_The government has allocated 49 million baht to save the historical riverside Wat Chai Wattanaram from further erosion, a senior fine arts official said yesterday.

Anek Sehamart, director of fine arts office 3, said the budget was granted through the Fine Arts Department, a state agency responsible for conserving historical ruins.

The money will be spent on reinforcing and strengthening the 20-year-old concrete dyke to prevent water from the Chao Phraya river from eroding the sanctuary in tambon Pompet, Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya district.

Last year's heavy floods severely damaged the dyke and weakened the foundations of most structures in the temple compound, including the principal prang, a cone-shaped stupa.

The repair work is expected to last about seven months and will not require the closure of the temple, a major tourist attraction in this central province.

The renovation work will be jointly undertaken by the Fine Arts Department and the Public Works and Town and Country Planning Department.

Wat Chai Wattanaram was constructed in 1630 by King Prasat Thong when Ayutthaya was still the capital of old Siam. It was built on the site of the palace of the king's mother. The temple is famous for its prang which was modelled after a Khmer monument.

A separate budget is also being requested from the government to restore other nearby temples, including Wat Kudee Dao and Wat Maheyong, he said.

Bangkok Post

Monday April 09, 2007