Kendrapara: Even as one-and-half-months separate between now and the coming car festival here, construction of the 64-ft long Brahma Taladhwaj chariot is yet to start courtesy non-supply of timber by the forest department. Incidentally, the Brahma Taladhwaj is the biggest of chariots in the state.
According to Baladevjew Temple Trust Board (BTTB), two new axles are required for the chariot this year as the existing axles have been dilapidated. The temple trust requires sal wood to make axles.
According to Dhiren Kumar Sahu, a member of BTTB, every year the chariot work begins on Akhaya Trutiya. Two newly-constructed wheels of the chariot are worship at Ratha Danda on the auspicious day of Debasnana Purnima. However, this time around this age-old tradition may be broken, apprehended servitors.
The former executive officer of Baladevjew temple endowment board December 15 last year had written to DFO of Cuttack to supply sal timbers for construction of the chariot. The DFO in March this year informed the board that they could not supply the timber.
Sub-collector Kanhu Dhir, who also doubles up as president of the endowment board, again wrote to principal chief conservator of forest (PCCF) March 22 to take measures for supply of sal timbers upon which the latter asked the executive officer and trustees of the endowment board to contact DFOs of Dhenkanal, Athamalik and Angul and range officer of Hindol. But it yielded little as sal timbers are not available in their divisions, said Balabhadra Patri, executive officer.
The district collector last week wrote to PCCF to take steps for supply of required timbers on or before June 7. When contacted, district collector Debaraj Senapati said the PCCF has informed the district administration to contact DFO of Keonjhar to obtain sal timbers Thursday night.
PNN