Puri: Ratnabhandar, the treasury of Srimandir, is in a state of dilapidation and there is an urgent need to repair it, claimed temple technical core committee working chairperson Gopal Chandra Mitra.
Mitra, a former chief engineer of Works department, claimed that several cracks have been spotted on the outer wall of the temple treasury. Moreover, several stones of the structure have come loose in recent years.
“Several structures of the 12th century shrine including Ratnabhandar, sanctum sanctorum, Natamandap and Bhogamandap require urgent renovation,” Mitra said.
According to him, the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) may need three months to repair the temple treasury. “The Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) and the ASI should examine the structural status properly during the upcoming Rath Yatra and devise a strategy for its renovation accordingly,” Mitra said.
The renowned engineer has also proposed proper enlisting and preservation of precious metals and ornaments stored at the temple treasury. He asked the temple administration to use modern inventory control system for safe storing of the precious metals.
The Shree Jagannath Temple Managing Committee, in its March 20 meeting, had decided to open Ratnabhandar and examine its structural status as part of the renovation drive at Srimandir Jagamohan.
The Orissa High Court had also directed the SJTA and the ASI to examine the status of Ratnabhandar within two days starting March 26. However, the temple administration had opened the treasury April 4 and examined its status after receiving the required approval from the state government.
A 17-member team, constituted by the SJTA, had only examined the outer chamber of the temple treasury during the inspection drive and not the inner chamber. sources said.
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