KalingaTV News Network
Bhubaneswar/Puri: Odisha government on Tuesday granted permission to open the Srimandir Ratna Bhandar, the chamber containing Lord Jagannath’s treasure trove, for inspection.
According to reports, the Law department of the state government has permitted Shri Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) to open the Ratna Bhandar for inspection. The SJTA is said to have received a letter in this regard from the Law department.
However, the Law department has imposed certain condition to open the treasure house of Lord Jagannath and his siblings.
In the letter, the Law department has asked the SJTA to follow all the norms and give priority to the safety of the Ratna Bhandar.
The Chhatisa Nijog (apex body of temple servitors) will hold a meeting on March 29 to discuss the modalities which would be adopted for opening of Ratna Bhandar.
The SJTA and Ratna Bhandar Sub-Committee on Monday had clarified that the Ratna Bhandar will be opened only after taking the Odisha government and the Chattisa Nijog into confidence. Besides, they had sought the permission of the state government to open the Ratna Bhandar.
SJTA Chief Administrator Pradeep Kumar Jena had also informed that no assessment of the ornaments or valuables kept inside the Ratna Bhandar will be undertaken and only visual inspection of its roof and walls will be done. Besides, the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) will be followed while entering Ratna Bhandar, he had siad.
Notably, the Orissa High Court on March 22 had ordered the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) to inspect the structural condition of the Ratna Bhandar on March 26 and 27 and submit a status report on March 29. However, several servitors had protested the opening of the Ratna Bhandar.
Ms Kalinga