Post News Network
Bhubaneswar, July 7: The Archeological Survey of India (ASI) has asked state government to provide 10 civil engineers to assist its core committee in taking up the conservation work of Srimandir Jagamohan.
“The Union secretary (culture) has requested the Orissa government to provide 10 dedicated state-level engineers to assist the ASI core committee in taking up the conservation work of Shri Jagannath Temple more effectively. Early action in this regard will be of great help,” ASI director general Rakesh Tewari wrote in his letter to Chief Secretary Aditya Prasad Padhi recently.
Tewari has also assured the state government of “full cooperation” on the part of ASI for the conservation of Srimandir.
Tewari has, however, clarified in his letter that the chemical preservation inside the Jagamohan is time taking and may not be completed in a short time.
The expert team of ASI will visit the temple Friday and then hold discussions on various issues of conservation. “The remaining parts of the conservation work will be taken up according to the decision after holding a meeting during the visit,” he has said.
Meanwhile, the IIT-Madras team, which was to visit the temple Thursday could not do so, according to the Shri Jagannath Temple Administration public relations officer. The team is likely to visit the temple Friday, said the official.
The team has been roped in to study the cracks in the structure and suggest the mode of repair, sources said.
With the Trinity on a nine-day sojourn to Sri Gundicha temple, the temple authority has called for the temple repair work to be expedited during this period.
Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik had also expressed concern over the condition of the temple and has asked the Centre to intervene in this matter immediately.
Jagamohan is facing severe distress and with stone layers on the heads of the four central columns cracking and extensive structural cracks becoming visible in stone beams over the columns supporting the pyramidal roofing structure (Jagamohan). The structure needs immediate repair and restoration.
