Puri: The Shree Jagannatha Temple Managing Committee on Monday approved the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for inspection of Ratna Bhandar of the 12th-century shrine.
“At today’s meeting we discussed on 5-6 proposals–especially, the SOP prepared on Ratna Bhandar. The gold ornaments of the Bhitara and Bahara Ratna Bhandar have been in the meanwhile shifted to a temporary strong room. Shifting of old almirahs and chests, use of scientific tools and techniques, etc were discussed in detail,” informed Chief Administrator of Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) Dr Arabinda Kumar Padhee briefing reporters after the meeting of the Shree Jagannatha Temple Managing Committee here today.
“This SOP has been approved by the temple’s Managing Committee which we will send to the State government for final approval,” Padhee added.
The SJTA Chief Administrator further informed that the temple’s managing committee discussed in detail approved the ‘Draft Shree Jagannath Temple Land Management Rules 2024’ which will be later sent to the State government and following its approval will be implemented.
Padhee said that the 35 air conditioned e-bus provided by the OBCC to the SJTA also came up for discussion at the meeting.
“It was decided at the meeting to ask the State government to transfer those to OSRTC or any other agency for its management later,” he added.
The SJTA Chief Administrator also informed that the ‘Arpan Rice’ matter was discussed at the meeting and the temple managing committee has authorized the SJTA Chief Administrator and Puri Collector to sort out the issue by discussing with concerned nijogs (temple servitor bodies) and accordingly propose to the government to take a final call.
“A committee comprising of the district Collector and SP will be constituted to ensure smooth darshan of the deities by the devotees. The committee will speak to various sevayats bodies and if it requires anything on the logistics front or infrastructure it will be taken up,” said Padhee.
Gajapati Maharaja Dibyasingha Deb chaired the Shree Jagannatha Temple Managing Committee meeting through video conferencing.
