Post News Network
Puri/Bhubaneswar,: A day after seeking the intervention of the Prime Minister to ensure quick repairs of Srimandir here, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik Wednesday visited the 12th century shrine and inspected the damage in Jagamohan – the prayer hall in front of the sanctum sanctorum.
“I have seen the damage. The central team comprising Director General of ASI and the secretary to the culture ministry will visit the temple to take a decision on the repair works,” Patnaik said after surveying the cracks in the pillars of Jagamohan.
The Chief Minister spent about half an hour inside the temple and said he has spoken to the Prime Minister on the matter. ”As far as the temple is concerned, my government will leave no stone unturned in its upkeep,” Patnaik said.
“We showed the Chief Minister the cracks in the columns and beams of Jagamohan. He also saw the structural map of the temple. We will fully cooperate with the ASI team in repairing the Jagamohan,” Suresh Mohapatra, chief of Sri Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA), told reporters here.
According to Mohapatra, a central team comprising Union culture secretary and ASI DG will visit the temple May 20 to review repairs.
The state government will also hold a meeting the team on the same day to find out a permanent solution to the issue before Rath Yatra. Nilakantha Mohapatra, a senior priest, said they were relieved to note that the Chief Minister is concerned at the damage to the temple. “Immediate steps need to be taken to save the temple,” the priest said.
Earlier in the day, SJTA convened a meeting to discuss the repair of Jagamohan which was attended by the members of 11 ‘nijogs’ (priest groups) of the temple.
Cracks have emerged in Jagamohan – the prayer hall of the temple complex – as one of the four pillars of the pyramidal structure has weakened. Cracking of stone layers atop the pillar head of the four central columns and extensive structural cracks in the stone beams over these columns supporting the pyramidal roofing structure which is posing serious threat to the temple needs immediate repair.
ASI technical core committee chairman GC Mitra, who resigned recently citing personal reasons, has already warned that if not repaired in time, the temple structure may collapse like Sun Temple at Konark.
