PANAJI: Goa Tourism Development Corporation has ordered the contractor carrying out beautification of the Chandreshwar Bhutnath temple to stop all work with immediate effect. The move comes after the mahajans of the historic temple in Paroda in South Goa complained to various authorities that ancient metamorphic rocks have been cut by the contractor to construct a retaining wall.In a statement released on Tuesday, GTDC said it has initiated an inquiry into the matter and that stern action will be taken against the contractor if found guilty.Mahajans of the temple had filed a complaint against GTDC.“Executive engineer GTDC Nandkumar Acharya has inspected the site and has observed that some rock boulders in front of the temple premises have been broken,” the statement reads. The corporation added that notice has been issue to the contractor M/s City Contractions.The contractor has exceeded the brief and violated the contract terms, the corporation said. The damages so done will be recovered from the contractor and the site will be restored, it said, adding that the location where reportedly the rocks have been broken is not within the scope of work.“The GTDC assures its commitment towards protecting history and heritage of the state. The GTDC assures to closely monitor the beautification work of the Chandreshwar Bhutnath temple and assures that it will be completed to the satisfaction of the locals and temple authorities after inquiry is completed,” the statement reads.The corporation said that it had initiated the work at the cost of Rs 4.6 crore on the request of the Paroda temple’s official committee. The work taken up, which includes upgrading and providing facilities for tourists visiting the temple, commenced in December 2016.Implementation has been done with the consent of the temple committee, the GTDC statement reads.

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