Puri Jagannath Temple Ratna Bhandar: GPR Survey Report Soon, Says Odisha Minister

Bhubaneswar: The report of the Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) survey conducted inside the Ratna Bhandar (treasury) of Shree Jagannath Temple in Odisha’s Puri is likely to be available soon.

The GPR survey was conducted to assess the condition of both outer and inner chambers of Ratna Bhandar to ascertain possible existence of any hidden tunnels or structures.

The report of the survey, conducted by an expert team of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), is likely to be available within four days, Law Minister Prithiviraj Harichandan said.

Sophisticated equipment was used by the expert team in the presence of the nine-member Ratna Bhandar committee, chaired by Justice (Retd) Biswanath Rath, to scan the walls of Ratna Bhandar to assess the exact status of the structure.

Once the survey report is received, the state government will decide the next course of action, the Minister said, adding that necessary steps will be taken on the basis of the findings.

If the findings indicate the presence of any ornaments or other treasure, or hidden tunnel, appropriate steps will be taken accordingly, he said, adding that if nothing is found, the ASI will proceed with the repair work.

The counting of the ornaments will be done only after the treasure boxes are taken back to the Ratna Bhandar after the repair work is completed by the ASI, the Minister said.

It may be noted that the ASI has been entrusted by the state government to conduct repair and conservation of this 12th century temple since 1974.

All the ornaments and valuables of Ratna Bhandar will be taken back to the treasury where the fresh inventory will be made and then compared with the inventory made in 1978, sources said.