Jagannath temple Ratna Bhandar requires immediate conservation: ASI to Orissa HC

Priya Ranjan Swain Published On : Aug 7, 2023 at 4:54 PM

Bhubaneswar: There is a need for immediate conservation of Jagannath temple Ratna Bhandar, said the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) in an affidavit filed before Orissa High Court in Cuttack today.

The ASI filed the affidavit on a case pertaining to the temple treasury.

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“Jagannath temple Ratna Bhandar requires urgent conservation. We have mentioned this in our affidavit. Our officials had found certain indications like hollow sounds, stone fragmentation and water seepage marks on the walls of Ratna Bhandar during an inspection in 2018,” said ASI Puri Zone Superintending Archaeologist D Gadanayak.

Gadanayak further said that the central agency will take the appropriate measures as per the direction of the HC. “The matter is sub-judice now. We are ready to work as per the direction of the HC. The ASI has not carried out any conservation work at Ratna Bhandar since long,” he added.

It is worth mentioning here that the authorities of the 12^th century shrine in Puri have recently decided to send a recommendation to the state government for an inspection of Ratna Bhandar by the ASI during the next year’s Ratha Jatra.

The ASI had earlier requested the temple administration to allow it to carry out structural inspection at the temple treasury (Ratna Bhandar) during the next Ratha Jatra.