Islamabad, May 9 (IANS): The drying up of a sacred pond abutting the 900-year-old Katasraj temple complex in Pakistan is failure "in the form of wilful neglect and exploitation", said a daily.

An editorial in the News International highlighted the state of the Hindu temple at Katasraj in Punjab province, considered sacred due to the pond, which according to Hindu mythology was formed from Lord Shiva's tears.

It is also said that the Pandava brothers stayed in the temple region for four out of the 14 years they spent in exile.

The editorial said that often heritage sites are of religious or cultural significance, or simply outstanding examples of the architecture of a bygone age.

"Few will have forgotten the destruction by the Taliban of the Buddhas at Bamiyan a decade ago.

"We have many sites of international importance - Taxila, now crumbling, Mohenjodaro in the same condition, Derawar Fort falling apart before our eyes and many others in varying states of dilapidation and neglect."

It observed that most historic sites were deteriorating, but "one is currently being wilfully destroyed in pursuit of profit".

The daily then said that "the temple complex of Katasraj contains - or rather did contain - a pool..."

"The pool has dried up as a result of the activities of a vast cement mining and processing complex. The pool irrigated several villages in the vicinity but the cement works diverted the flow that fed it and it is now dry," it said.

The editorial said that efforts by the Punjab government to restore the temple complex have "fallen far short of their promise, and the Punjab Archaeology Department stands powerless in the face of big business".

"The area around the cement works is heavily polluted. It is not as if we were in dire need of more cement - most of that produced is exported to Afghanistan."

Strongly taking up the case, the editorial said: "Once again we see failure - this time in the form of wilful neglect and exploitation. What we may never see is the restoration of the temples of Katasraj to their former glory."

Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari has also taken note of the neglect of the temple complex and said action should be taken.