Bhubaneswar: The technical survey of Ratna Bhandar inside Jagannath temple in Odisha’s Puri town was completed on Sunday, one day ahead of the schedule.
Speaking to media persons after the survey, Chief Administrator of the Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) Arabinda Padhee said the technical survey of Ratna Bhandar (treasury) of the temple was carried out by a team of National Geophysical Research Institute (NGRI) under the leadership of scientist Anand Kumar Pandey.
“The survey, which was started at 2 pm on Saturday, was scheduled to go on for three days. But, due to the grace of Lord Jagannath, the survey work ended one day before the schedule,” he said.
Padhee further said the NGRI team carried out the survey of floor and walls of the Ratna Bhandar from inside as well as outside. “We are expecting the NGRI will submit its survey report within 10 days. We will decide our next step on the basis of the report and recommendations of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI),” he added.
While the survey by the NGRI team was the second one, an experts’ team led by the ASI conducted first phase of inspection of Ratna Bhandar on Wednesday.
During the survey, a detailed assessment was done using laser scanners. Under the supervision of ASI Additional Director General (ADG) Jahnavij Sharma, the technical inspection was undertaken using high-tech gadgets and other scientific equipment to conduct a detail assessment of the Ratna Bhanbdar.