Bhubaneswar: The repair work and inventory of the Puri Jagannath Temple Ratna Bhandar will be completed by the end of January next year, Odisha Law Minister Prithiviraj Harichandan informed on Monday.
“The Archeological Survey of India (ASI) has been asked to commence the repair work of Ratna Bhandar after Kartik month. The inventory of valuables will be made inside Ratna Bhandar after shifting the valuables from temporary strongrooms to the Ratna Bhandar following the repair work,” the minister said.
According to Harichandan, keeping in view the security issues the valuables belonging to Lord Jagannath can be counted only inside the Ratna Bhandar. Prior to this, the structure needs to be repaired. After the repair work is completed, the process will begin to make an inventory of valuables and it is likely to be complete by January 2025 end.
Currently, repair work of Meghanad Pacheri (the boundary wall of Puri Jagannath Temple) is underway and a meeting in this regard will be held on November 20, he added.
It is worth mentioning here that the Ratna Bhandar was opened twice in July this year as per the SOP to shift the valuables and gold ornaments of deities to strongrooms.
