Puri: The much-awaited inventory of Ratna Bhandar (the treasury) of Shree Jagannath Temple in Odisha’s pilgrim town of Puri is likely to begin on any day between July 8 and July 27.
Former Supreme Court Judge Justice Arijit Pasayat is scheduled arrive in Odisha on July 4 to supervise the process. He is the chairman of the high-level committee constituted during the previous BJD regime on the direction of Orissa High Court to supervise the inventory of jewellery and other valuables at the treasury of the Lords.
His tour programme includes a meeting of Ratna Bhandar Inventorisation Committee on July 5 in Puri, where he will also participate in Rath Yatra celebrations on July 7, and conduct inventory work between July 8 and July 27, before returning to Cuttack.
“It is up to the government to finalise the schedule of Ratna Bhandar’s opening and its inventory,” Justice Pasayat told TOI.
Speaking to the media, Law Minister Prithviraj Harichandan said that a formal decision regarding the opening of Ratna Bhandar will be taken in a day or two. “We have had discussions in this regard and a decision will be taken in a day or two. We will provide details of the modalities for opening of Ratna Bhandar soon. Therefore, I would request everyone not to believe in rumours,” he said.
There have been reports that the Ratna Bhandar will be opened during Rath Yatra.
On Sunday, Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi also asserted that it will soon be opened for inspection and repair. The government is also preparing to make an inventory of the ornaments stored inside, he added.
