Missing head of Khajuraho idol will be restored soon: ASI chief

The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has found the missing head of an 11th-century Vishnu idol at Khajuraho, whose restoration became the subject of a recent controversy involving the Supreme Court, and plans to reattach it after expert examination. ASI has also introduced a three-year deadline for archaeological excavations to curb delays in research and cut approval times for most conservation projects to 15-20 days, director general Yadubir Singh Rawat told TOI in an exclusive interview. He also revealed plans for a preliminary excavation at Ujjain's Vaishya Tekri, where a Buddhist stupa could be larger than Sanchi's, although its actual scale and significance remain to be established.Controversy over the beheaded Vishnu idol at Khajuraho's Javari temple reached the Supreme Court last year when advocate Rakesh Dalal sought restoration, replacement or reconstruction of the seven-foot statue.