Odisha govt forms high-level panel for supervising inventory of Srimandir Ratna Bhandar

In compliance with the order of the Orissa High Court, the Odisha government on Thursday formed a high-level committee to supervise the process of inventory of valuables stored in Ratna Bhandar (treasure trove) of Lord Jagannath Temple in Puri.

Retired Supreme Court judge Justice Arijit Pasayat has been appointed the chairman of the 12-member committee. 

Eminent heart surgeon Ramakant Panda has been named the deputy chairman of the committee. Other members of the committee are- former CMD of Allahabad Bank Bidhubhusan Samal, Chartered Accountant A K Sabat, Puri Gajapati Maharaja Dibyasingha Deb’s representative, A representative of ASI, servitor’s representatives- Durgaprasad Das Mohapatra, Madhaba Chandra Mohapatra, Jagannath Kar, Ganesh Mekap, Deputy Chief Administrator of SJTA. The Chief Administrator of SJTA will act as the member convener.

Meanwhile, cracks have been detected on the wall of the outer Ratna Bhandar of Srimandir. It is suspected that water has been leaking into the inner chamber through the cracks.

The cracks were found during laser scanning carried out by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI). ASI has submitted a report in this regard to the Chief Administrator of Shri Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA).

In its report, ASI has suggested that the weathered and weak lime plaster of the slopped surface shows visible cracks at many locations which need de-plastering and appropriate consolidation. As per the report, these might have caused seepages into the inner chamber.

“The condition mapping of Ratna Bhandar outer walls on Northern side was conducted by Laser scanning from 28-29th November-2023. On the basis of the model received from the agency and physical verification of the integral sections of the pidha deul structure, I am submitting the following structural problems to carry out the essential conservation works at the earliest,” read the ASI report.

“The weathered and weak lime plaster of the slopped surface shows visible cracks at many locations which need de-plastering and appropriate consolidation. As per the report, these might have caused seepages into the inner chamber. The junction area of Ratna Bhandar and Jagamohan Bada just below the first pidha needs strengthening and proper water-tightening. After de-plastering the outer three side walls if any major damage is found, it will be taken care of by appropriate conservation mechanism,” the report further read.