Massive landslides continue to pose a threat to the world famous Tawang Monastery in Arunachal Pradesh with no sign of the mudslide coming to a halt. "Despite best efforts by the district authorities to protect the 330 year old monastery bordering China, the landslides continues unabated" officials said.
Tawang-based Environment Protection Society (EPS) has expressed serious concern at the increase in the volume of landslides. According to a survey carried out by the society yesterday at the monastery, the landslide's volume has doubled since last week.
"The area below the monastery is being washed away at a very rapid rate and with each passing day the amount of risk involved in residing in the area seems to escalate," a society press release said. The EPS has urged the authority concerned to take immediate steps to save the monastery before the monsoon season starts next year.
The monastery also known as Gaden Namgyal Lhatse which stands on the spur of a hill about 10,000 feet above the sea level belongs to the Gelugpa sect of Buddhism and has a religious association with Drepung Monastery in Lhasa, Tibet.
The monastery has a capacity of about 700 monks and at present it is home to more than 450 lamas. It also houses a three storey library which has a collection of 400 years old Kangyur scriptures in addition to many other invaluable manuscripts. Other large collections include the Sutras, Tangyu, Sungbhum, old books and ancient manuscripts, both handwritten and printed, many of them in gold.
{{/usCountry}}The monastery has a capacity of about 700 monks and at present it is home to more than 450 lamas. It also houses a three storey library which has a collection of 400 years old Kangyur scriptures in addition to many other invaluable manuscripts. Other large collections include the Sutras, Tangyu, Sungbhum, old books and ancient manuscripts, both handwritten and printed, many of them in gold.
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