Repair Of Puri Jagannath Temple Ratna Bhandar To Begin Soon; Missing Key ‘Conspiracy’ To Be Exposed: Odisha Minister

Bhubaneswar: The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) will start the repair work of the Ratna Bhandar (treasury) of Shree Jagannath temple in Odisha’s Puri very soon.

Stating that the ASI has already conducted a preliminary inspection of Ratna Bhandar, Law Minister Prithviraj Barichandan told reporters on Sunday that the process of repair work of outer and inner chambers of Ratna Bhandar will start very soon.

He said it was necessary to make some modifications in the standard operating procedure (SOP) for conducting the repair work of the treasury in the 12th century shrine and the required changes have already been made.

Stressing that the government is keen to ensure smooth conduct of rituals in the temple during the repair work, the Minister said discussion has already been made with the servitors in this regard and the exact date for starting repair work will be announced very soon.

Noting that the ASI will first conduct repair of Bahara Ratna Bhandar, Harichandan said a decision on condicting laser scanning of the inner chamber will be taken soon.

The babus during the previous government started the drama regarding the missing Ratna Bhandar keys. Those behind the conspiracy for not allowing the opening of Ratna Bhandar will be exposed,”

Responding to a query on missing key of Ratna Bhandar, the Minister said a thorough investigation will be conducted to ascertain who was responsible for the mysterious episode. Certain bureaucrats seemed to have started the drama about Ratna Bhandar key during the previous government and they will be exposed, he said.

Those involved in the conspiracy for stalling the opening of Ratna Bhandar on the pretext of missing key will be exposed and action will be taken against them, the Minister said.

Speaking on the issue, senior Biju Janata Dal (BJD) leader and former Minister Amar Prasad Satapathy said sentiments of all devotees in Odisha and outside are closely associated with Jagannath Temple and its Ratna Bhandar.

Therefore, a proper investigation should be conducted to ascertain the circumstances in which the key of Ratna Bhangar went missing, he said, adding that the report of the Commission of Inquiry that probed the issue should also be made public.

Describing the Ratna Bhandar key episode as a sensitive issue, he said action should also be taken if anyone deliberately tried to delay the opening of the treasury in the name of missing key.