Bhubaneswar: The Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) said the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) today undertook a technical survey of the inner part of the ‘Ratna Bhandar’ (treasury) of the Puri Srimandir. The inspection lasted around 3 hours and 50 minutes.
SJTA Chief Administrator Arabinda Padhee said that the inspection works remain incomplete. The exercise will resume tomorrow.
The Ratna Bhandar committee chairman Justice Biswanath Rath said “the survey took 3 hours and 50 minutes today. We hope that the exercise will be completed in the stipulated time.”
The ASI team used hi-tech gadgets and other scientific equipment to conduct a detailed assessment of the Ratna Bhanbdar. Today, the team engaged three high-powered machines in the survey work. The data collected from the survey will take 10 days for processing, said Anand Pandey, chief of National Geophysical Research Institute (NGRI), Hyderabad.
The technical survey will also be carried out on September 22, and 23, from 1 pm to 6 pm.
“There will be restrictions on devotees visiting the temple. The temple gates will remain closed for devotees during the survey work, SJTA chief said.
Earlier on September 18, the SJTA had written to ASI Director General requesting for completion of Ratna Bhandar’s technical survey by September 24 in view of special rituals of the deities during Dussehra and ‘Kartika’ month.
Earlier, the ASI team had carried out laser scanning of the Ratna Bhandar to ascertain the presence of any secret tunnel.
