On Saturday, chief administrator Arabinda Padhee said that the temple administration would fully cooperate with the ASI in the restoration and upkeep of the Ratna Bhandar.
“We have received the report from the GPR-GPS survey of the Ratna Bhandar conducted by the ASI,” Padhee confirmed. He stressed that the temple administration has always prioritised the stability and security of the temple.
Previously, the ASI had conducted the GPR-GPS survey of the Ratna Bhandar, with assistance from the Hyderabad-based National Geophysical Research Institute.
Also read: Is there a secret tunnel inside Puri’s Jagannath Temple? ASI team to ‘laser scan’ Ratna Bhandar
Padhee shared that the ASI had provided a 45-page report on the survey findings. “The report indicates some damage to the floor and walls of the Ratna Bhandar. However, our team will need to study the technical details further,” he explained.
The ‘Ratna Bhandar’ or gemstone treasury of Puri’s Jagannath temple was reopened today (July 14) at 1.28 pm after 46 years, according to Odisha government officials. The revered treasury, last accessed in 1978, holds a trove of ornaments and valuables associated with the ancient shrine.
The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), which is responsible for the maintenance of this 12th-century temple, used the opportunity to inspect the inventory and undertake repair work of the bhandar, an official said, according to PTI.
At the time Puri District Collector Siddharth Shankar Swain, “We are fully prepared for the reopening of the Ratna Bhandar on July 14. We will strictly adhere to the standard operating procedures (SOP) issued by the government in accordance with the Shree Jagannath Temple Act.”
(Edited by : Jerome Anthony)
