Cuttack: The Orissa High Court Wednesday directed the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) to submit a report describing the steps it has taken to repair all the dilapidated temples on Srimandir precincts in Puri.
A division bench of Chief Justice Vineet Saran and Justice Bidyut Ranjan Sarangi pronounced the order while hearing a miscellaneous case filed by the Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA). The bench posted the next hearing on the case to November 22.
In its petition, the SJTA had claimed that as many as 51 temples and other structures on Srimandir premises are in a state of dilapidation.
In deference to an earlier order, ASI superintending archaeologist HA Nayak submitted an affidavit in the HC and claimed that the national conservator has initiated repair works at the Beherana gate of Srimandir. He informed the court that ASI employees are carrying out the repairing work as per the advice of the temple technical committee. The whole process will be completed within four months.
Nayak also informed the HC that the ASI has prepared a blueprint to renovate a portion of the shrine near Jay-Bijay Gate. “Members of Srimandir technical committee have visited the spot and given their suggestions. Soon the ASI director (conservation) will inspect the temple,” Nayak told the HC.
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