Puri: Members of the Srimandir Technical Committee and experts from the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), Dhanbad-based Central Institute of Mining and Fuel Research (CIMFR), Central Building Research Institute (CBRI) in Roorkee and the General Electrical Department (GED) are all set to examine the structure of the 12th century shrine for three days starting February 21.
Sources said experts will examine the temple structure thoroughly after a gap of six years. It is learnt that the experts will examine statuses of the second ceiling of the main temple, ventilation system at the sanctum sanctorum, Neelachakra (the wheel atop the shrine) and the lightning conductor installed at Srimandir.
Apart from these, experts are scheduled to examine the present conditions of Natamandap, Garuda pillar, Beherana gate and the Jagamohan, said Srimandir Technical Committee member Dharma Prasad Mishra.
According to sources, the structure of the main temple has three ceilings. The ASI had carried out a massive renovation work at the sanctum sanctorum after a stone rolled down from the structure in 1993.
Since then, experts from the ASI and the shrine’s technical committee have been examining the sanctum sanctorum once every year.
However, they face a host of problems in examining the second ceiling. “It is very difficult to examine the second ceiling. Experts had taken stock of its status in 2012. We have already put up iron scaffolding at the south side of Srimandir to facilitate the inspection,” said an ASI official.
PNN
