Bhubaneswar: The committee formed to carry out the inventory of the Ratna Bhandar has urged the state government to use the latest technologies for the repair work of Puri Srimandir Ratna Bhandar, said chairman of the high-level committee Justice Biswanath Rath on Monday.
According to sources, the high-level committee held a meeting on Monday. Following the meeting, Justice Rath informed the media that the empty (almirah) cupboard inside the Ratna Bhandar would be opened first. The empty almirahs, as decided by the temple administration, will be shifted to the designated room. This was not part of the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP). We have informed the government. If necessary, the empty cupboard will be repaired. We are giving importance to the sentiments of the people. We are taking care to ensure that no controversy arises in the future. We have suggested the managing committee for the use of available advanced technology.”
He further said, “Special care will be taken while repair work of Ratna Bhandar will be carried out so that rituals of sibling deities will not be hampered and visitors will not be affected. Temple Management Committee will take care of it.”
It is pertinent to mention that on July 14, after nearly 46 years, the inner chamber of Ratna Bhandar was opened at 1:28 p.m. in the presence of Orissa HC Judge Biswanath Rath, Shree Jagannath Temple Administrator (SJTA) Chief Administrator Dr Arabinda Kumar Padhee, ASI Superintendent DB Gadanayak, Ratna Bhandar monitoring committee member Dr CBK Mohanty, Ratna Bhandar sub-committee member Durga Dasmohapatra, monitoring panel member Jagannath Dasmohapatra, and a representative of Puri’s titular king, Gajapati Maharaja.
