PURI: Justice Biswanath Rath, chairman of the high-level committee on July 16 said, the Ratna Bhandar of Puri Srimandir will be again opened on July 18. The decision was taken during a meeting attended by SJTA chief administrator Arabinda Padhee, Justice Biswanth Rath, chairman of the supervisory committee appointed by the state government to oversee the Ratna Bhandar’s opening, Puri collector, and other officials.
After the meeting, Justice Rath informed that the inner chamber of Ratna Bhandar will be again opened on July 18 (Thursday) as it cannot be done tomorrow on the occasion of ‘Suna Besha’.
“It has been decided that Ratna Bhandar will be opened on July 18. The auspicious time decided for the opening has been fixed between 9:51 am and 12:15 pm. After inner chamber of the Ratna Bhandar is opened, the process of shifting valuables will be taken up,” said Justice Rath.
“As it is practically not possible to shift the entire ‘almirahs’ and chests as it will involve huge manpower, the contents (valuables, ornaments etc) inside the chests and almirahs will be shifted to the new ones which have been procured, ”added Justice Rath.
Justice Rath further said once the process is completed, all the items will be shifted to the temporary Ratna Bhandar set up inside the Srimandir complex. The temporary Ratna Bhandar has been equipped with CCTV cameras, fire safety measures, and other necessary precautions. The temporary Ratna Bhandar will be sealed after the completion of the shifting of the valuables,
On the other hand, SJTA Chief Administrator Arabinda Padhee on Tuesday reiterated that the keys that were given on the first day of the opening of Ratna Bhandar did not work to open the locks.
According to Padhee, there were three locks, one was sealed and two others weren’t sealed. However, both were locked.
As per the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP), the old locks were broken and two new locks have been affixed. The keys have been deposited with the treasury, said Padhee.
Law Minister Prithviraj Harichandan said the process of opening the Ratna Bhandar is divided into three parts as per the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP).
“The first part, opening the ‘Bahar Ratna Bhandar,’ is completed, and all ornaments from the outer chamber have been transferred to the temporary treasury. The inner chamber of the Ratna Bhandar will be opened soon, and the ASI will oversee its repairs,” Harichandan added.
It may be noted that on July 14, the inner chamber of Ratna Bhandar was reopened after 46 years by cutting open three locks. On that day the 11-member team saw boxes (sinduks) and almirahs inside the inner chamber but unanimously decided to postpone the transfer of jewellery to a designated strongroom due to the Bahuda Yatra (July 15) and Suna Besha (July 17) events.
