Puri: Launching a thorough inspection of Shree Jagannath Temple’s Ratna Bhandar in Odisha’s Puri, the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) conducted laser scanning of the inner chamber of the treasury on Wednesday.
In the first phase of inspection, the 17-member team conducted an assessment using laser scanners for documentation and analysis which will be required for undertaking repair works of the Ratna Bhandar.
Speaking to reporters after the day’s operation, Chief Administrator of Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) Arabinda Padhee said the 17-member technical team conducted the preliminary inspection and a laser survey on the first day.
Stating that the inspection continued for three hours from 2 pm to 5 pm, he said necessary examination and survey were done by the experts. Measurement of different structures was done, while dimensions were taken through laser scanning.
Survey by Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) will be conducted later and experts have been urged to take necessary steps in this regard, he said, adding that after getting the detailed report, the temple administration will place it before the state government.
Only after the comprehensive report is received, the ASI will take up necessary steps for the repair works in the treasury, he said.
Additional Director General of ASI Janhwij Sharma said while a preliminary survey was conducted, the NGRI team will visit Ratna Bhandar again and GPR survey will be carried out which will useful in conservation and repair works.
Noting that the inspection work remains incomplete, he said the team will again visit Ratna Bhandar and an analysis will be done to assess the exact status of the structure. Regarding the presence of any tunnel inside the treasury, he said it can be ascertained only after the completion of the GPR survey.
Justice (Retd) Biswanath Rath, Chairman of the high-level committee monitoring the ongoing exercise in Ratna Bhandar, said while preliminary inspection was conducted during the day, the process will be completed only after the use of GPR and other equipment to assess the exact status.
The experts will thoroughly analyse the findings obtained during the inspection done today and the whole exercise is likely to be completed by September 25.
The entire inspection work is being conducted as per the standard operating procedure (SOP) approved by the state government.