Post News Network
Puri: The Jagamohan of Srimandir may face collapse if it is not renovated in four to five months, claimed Srimandir technical committee member Gopal Chandra Mitra who had resigned from his post in protest against Archaeological Survey of India’s (ASI) refusal to give its approval to an estimate for its repair. The temple’s technical committee had decided to install stainless steel pillars and beams at Jagamohan to strengthen the dilapidated structure after consulting a group of experts from the Indian Institute of Technology-Madras, Mitra claimed Sunday.
“The director general of ASI had sought some clarifications from the technical committee regarding its decision to install stainless steel pillars and beams at Jagamohan. We have already submitted our clarification on the issue. Timely repair of Jagamohan is a bigger issue than my resignation,” Mitra said. Several cracks have been spotted on the four pillars of Jagamohan, he claimed. “The four pillars of the dilapidated structure may face collapse like the pillars of Sun temple in Konark. Mishaps never give any prior notice to anyone,” rued Mitra. He, however, evaded a question on the procurement of around 60 tonnes of stainless steel from Jindal Group for Jagamohan repair without the ASI’s nod for the project.