Puri: Setting aside its earlier reluctance to fix stainless steel frames at the Jagamohan of Srimandir, the Archaeological Survey of India
(ASI) has initiated the process to expedite renovation of the dilapidated structure.
Srimandir sources said ASI, conservator of the 12th century shrine, has asked state works department to prepare an estimate for installation of stainless steel frames at Jagamohan as per the design approved by its director general. ASI superintending archaeologist Hemasagar Abhaya Nayak sent a letter in this regard to the works department secretary Tuesday.
ASI officials had detected several cracks on the pillars and ceiling of Jagamohan during a routine check-up July 22 last year following which it started the repair work January 27 this year.
Jagannath temple technical committee in consultation with experts from IIT-Madras had finalised to fix stainless steel frames at Jagamohan to prevent the structure’s collapse. The technical panel had prepared a design and sent it to the ASI DG for approval.
The ASI DG had given conditional approval to the design November 19 and asked agency officials to carry out installation of steel frames as per the advice of experts from IIT-Madras.
However, ASI higher-ups had written to the state works department November 24 and asked it to prepare a final design for the temple renovation, sources said.
Subsequently, ASI officials had expressed their reluctance to fix steel frames at Jagamohan by drilling holes on its floor. They had sought no objection certificates (NOCs) from the Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA), technical committee and IIT-Madras experts before drilling holes on Jagamohan floor. The temple conservator had expressed its unwillingness to shoulder responsibility for any consequence that may arise due to drilling of holes at Jagamohan.
According to sources, SJTA chief administrator Suresh Mahapatra had sent a communiqué to ASI authorities asking them to carry out the renovation as per the design finalised by the technical committee and IIT-Madras experts.
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