Laser scanning of Puri Srimandir Ratna Bhandar to start from Nov 28: SJTA chief

The laser scanning of the Ratna Bhandar(treasure trove) of Puri Srimandir will start on November 28. 

Speaking to the media on Saturday, administrator of the Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA), Ranjan Kumar Das said that as the Srimandir is currently witnessing a huge rush of devotees in the holy month of Kartik, the laser scanning of the outer wall of the Ranta Bhandar will start from the day after Kartik Purnima, which marks the end of the month.

The SJTA administrator said, “The Archeological Survey of India (ASI) has been assigned the task of laser scanning. The temple administration has held talks with the ASI. The laser scanning machine has been brought by the ASI, which will fix a suitable time to carry out the scanning, particularly after the crowds thin out.”

He added that the laser scanning will point out the problem or where the crack/s is/are on the wall of the Ratna Bhandar. “If a situation arises, the scanning of the inner wall of the Ratna Bhadar and the temples of the side deities will be done,” Das said, adding that the temple administration will extend all possible cooperation to the ASI during the scanning.   

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On November 3, the Shree Jagannath Temple Managing Committee (SJTMC) gave its approval to the laser scanning of the Ranta Bhandar for repair of the cracks. 

Superintendent of ASI, DB Garnaik earlier informed, "The laser scanning of the Ratna Bhandar will be done in a phased manner so as to detect where cracks lie in the wall."