Puri: Repair work of Shree Jagannath temple’s Ratna Bhandar in pilgrim town of Puri will commence in a day or two and completed by January 31, Odisha Law Minister Prithiviraj Harichandan informed on Sunday.
“The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) will submit the work schedule today. It will begin the repair work soon after cleaning the inner chamber of the temple’s treasury. Repair, inventory and audit of the gold jewelleries and other valuables will be completed by January 31,” he told reporters.
The SJTA’s chief administrator has handed over the permission letter to the ASI to carry out the repair and restoration work, he said, adding that the temple administration also held talks with Chhatisha Nijog in this regard.
“After the repair work is completed, the valuables will be brought back to the treasury from the strongrooms and the inventorisation will begin in accordance with the temple’s established rules,” Harichandan said.
He confirmed that no secret chambers or tunnels or suspicious articles were found in the inner chamber of Ratna Bhandar during the ground penetrating radar (GPR) survey. It, however, detected cracks and voids in Bhitara and Bahara Bhandars, he added.
On Saturday, the ASI on Saturday wrote to the SJTA to allot adequate time and date for undertaking the structural conservation. It has also sought permission to carry out photo documentation of the conservation work and deploy representatives from temple sevayats and Jagannath temple police during the process.
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