While speculation is rife that Ratna Bhandar (treasure trove) of Puri Srimandir may be opened on July 8, Odisha Law Minister Prithviraj Harichandan has finally cleared the air in this regard.
Harichandan informed on Wednesday that a decision regarding the opening of Ratna Bhandar will be taken in a day or two.
“High-level discussions about the opening of Ratna Bhandar have already been done. The decision in this regard will be announced in a day or two. We are going to inform the people of Odisha about the detailed modalities regarding the process of the opening of Ratna Bhandar soon,” said Harichandan.
“I request one and all not to believe in any kind of rumours. The government’s decision in this regard will be informed to the people of Odisha,” he added.
Meanwhile, Puri Srimandir Managing Committee member Sudarsan Pattnaik also exuded confidence that the government will take a strong decision about the opening of Ratna Bhandar this time.
“It will not happen like earlier. I am quite sure that the government will take a strong decision about the opening of Ratna Bhandar this time,” said Pattnaik.
As per sources, before the opening of Ratna Bhandar, the supervising committee meeting comprising 12 members may be held on July 5. The final decision about the opening of Ratna Bhandar will be taken in the meeting.
Justice Arijit Pasayat, who is heading the committee to supervise the inventory of valuables in Ratna Bhandar, is set to visit Odisha on July 4.
Sources further informed that Pasayat’s visit has been earmarked for the Ratna Bhandar inventorisation work.
Meanwhile, Puri King Gajapati Dibyasingha Deb has expressed his pleasure over the development.
“It’s a matter of great pleasure that Ratna Bhandar will be opened soon. We have been raising the issue in the managing committee for a long time. The inner Ratna Bhandar has been closed for 45 long years. Effort was made to open inner Ratna Bhandar in 2018, but it was not successful. However, after scanning, the expert team of ASI said that the inner Ratna Bhandar needs repairing,” said Gajapati.
“The first thing is repairing work of inner and outer Ratna Bhandar and ASI is responsible for the work. The second thing is inventory and as per the recommendation of the managing committee, a high-level panel has been formed headed by Justice Arijit Pasayat to supervise the work. The supervising committee meeting comprising 12 members will be held on July 5. The final decision about the opening of Ratna Bhandar will be taken in the meeting. It is a very delicate work and we are confident that with Lord Jagannath’s blessings, the work will be executed properly,” he added.