Puri: Revenue Minister Maheswar Mohanty on Sunday urged President Ram Nath Kovind to set up a permanent office of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) in Puri.
The Minister, who was accompanying the President during his visit to Lord Jagannath Temple, said, “Setting up of an office of ASI will facilitate proper maintenance of the 12th century shrine. The President has assured to look into the demand for the same.”
Earlier, the state government had put forth the same demand before former President Pranab Mukherjee during his visit to the temple. However, the demand is yet to be met, Mohanty added.
During his visit to the temple, the President paid obeisance to Lord Jagannath, goddess Bimala and Lakshmi. He proposed the temple administration to make sitting arrangements for the senior citizens in the temple premises and placed emphasis on cleanliness of the shrine.
However, some of the servitors expressed displeasure over deviation in conduct of a few services by the temple administration during the President’s visit.
The President also graced the centenary celebrations of Rashtriya Sanskrit Sansthan (Deemed University) at Shri Sadashiva Campus here.
On the occasion, Kovind unveiled Rs 10 and Rs 1, 000 commemorative coins on Lord Jagannath’s Nabakalebara in presence of his wife Sabitri Kovind, Puri Gajapati Maharaj Dibya Singh Deb, Governor Dr SC Jamir, Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and Higher Education Minister Ananta Das.
