KalingaTV News Network
Puri: A ten-member team including experts from Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) will inspect the Ratna Bhandar of world famous Jagannath temple here in Odisha to assess its structural stability and safety.
The decision was made at the the Chhatisa Nijog meeting held here on Thursday evening.
The ten-member team includes representatives of Puri King Gajapati Maharaj Dibyasingha Deb, Pattajoshi Mohapatra, Bhandara Mekap, Tadhau Karana, Deula Karana, two engineers of ASI, two members of the ASI Core Committee- GC Mitra and NC Pal, and Advocate NK Mohanty, who has been appointed as Amicus Curiae by the Orissa High Court to inspect the on-going Jagamohan repair works.
The Chhatisa Nijog meeting also decided the norms of entering the Ratna Bhandar. However, it was not decided when the Ratna Bhandar will be opened for its inspection.
“The Chhatisa Nijog meeting decided that each of the 10 members would be thoroughly searched before and after the inspection of the Ratna Bhandar. Each member would be searched twice by the police and once by the Bhandara Mekap,” Chief Administrator of Shri Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) Pradip Jena said after the meeting.
“Each member will submit report separately after inspection of the Ratna Bhandar on the same day,” Jena added. “Those who will enter the Ratna Bhandar will change their dresses and wear gamchas (towels) provided by the temple administration.”
The Ratna Bhandar of the 12th century shrine was last opened in 1984.
Kalinga AI