ASI team to inspect Puri Shrimandir Ratna Bhandar in a day or two to review need for repair work: Odisha Law Minister

Bhubaneswar: Odisha Law Minister Prithiviraj Harichandan on July 21 said that the Archaeological Survey Of India (ASI) will start its inspection work inside Puri’s Jagannath Srimandir’s Ratna Bhandar in a day or two.

While talking to media persons in Bhubaneswar, the Law Minister said that after inspection by the ASI team, the government will approve the time sought by ASI required for the repair work of Ratna Bhandar.

“Already, all the articles and valuables from Ratna Bhandar have been shifted to a temporary strong room. The team of the Archaeological Survey Of India (ASI) will inspect Ratna Bhandar in a day or two  Once the inspection begins, whatever problems are there inside Ratna Bhandar from a structural point of view will be known. Subsequently, the Odisha government will approve the time sought by ASI required for the repair works,” said Harichandan.

The Law Minister said that whether there would be laser scanning or not, would be decided later after the ASI inspection.

It may be noted that Ratna Bhandar, the treasure trove of Bhagban Jagannath was first opened on July 14 after 46 years. Later, all the valuables from the Ratna Bhandar were shifted to the temporary strong room inside the Srimandir complex on July 18.

The entire process is being supervised by a Committee constituted by the Odisha Government. Justice Biswanath Rath is the chairman of the Committee.

On July 18, Gajapati Maharaja Dibyasingha Deb also joined the high-level panel which entered the Ratna Bhandar for inventory.

After inspecting the inner and outer Chambers of Ratna Bhandar, Gajapati Maharaj had said, Ratna Bhandar needs to be repaired.

He had then said, that after Ratna Bhandar both outer and inner chambers are completely vacated, the structure will be inspected by using high technology instruments and a scanning machine.  Then temple administration will hand over the charge to ASI authorities for conservation.

“Temple administration has no knowledge about when  Bhandar room had been repaired in the past. The administration has no evidence about repair work since 1971 when the ASI took charge of repairing the Jagannath  Temple. So the repair work of Ratna Bhandar is very essential,” he had said on July 18.