ASI To Complete Repair Of Puri Ratna Bhandar In 3 Months: SJTA Chief

Bhubaneswar: The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has informed the Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) that the repair work of the Ratna Bhandar (treasury) will be completed within three months.

Stating this on Thursday, Chief Administrator of SJTA Arabinda Kumar Padhee said that the repair work of the Ratna Bhandar will be completed at the earliest. The ASI has communicated in writing that the repair work will be completed within three months, he said.

Padhee said that the ASI is carrying out the repair work on the basis of their technical survey conducted already. As Mahasnan was performed in the shrine on Wednesday, less time may be available for repair and restoration work on Thursday, he said.

He further informed that identity cards have been issued to the members of the ASI team who will be carrying out the repair work in the Ratna Bhandar.

Necessary steps are being taken to ensure that rituals of the sibling deities in the 12th century shrine are not affected during the Ratna Bhandar repair being carried out by the ASI.

After completion of the repair process, inventorisation of ornaments and valuables of the Ratna Bhandar will be conducted, he said.