Jagamohan repair to start in a week: Chief Secy

Bhubaneswar/Puri: The repair of Srimandir Jagamohan will start in a week, chief secretary AP Padhi said after a meeting with the central team, which inspected the condition of the Jagamohan today.

The repair work will be done as per the advice of the experts from Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Chennai, IIT, Bhubaneswar and NIT, Rourkela, Padhi said.

"Both of us (Odisha government and ASI) have agreed to start work immidiatey. Work of the pocket will be taken up first," the chief secretary said.

Union Culture secretary Narendra Sinha, who led the team to the 12th century shrine, said "We have spent a long time inspecting the condition of the Jagamohan. Whatever is required for the repair, we will do". He added that advice from the international experts would be taken, if needed.

Describing the condition of the structure, Sinha said; "The crack in the Jagamohan is nearly one hundred years old. It became visible only after de-plastering of the structure. Since it has sustained for hundred years despite the crack, there has to be some balance somewhere. Somebody has to analyse it".

The central team comprising ASI DG, core committee working chairman GC Mitra, who recently resigned, and others examined the condition of pockets, beams and pillars of Jagamohan climbing atop it. The team spent around three hours in the temple.

Before visiting the temple, the team met Srimandir Management chief Gajapati Maharaj Dibya Singh Deb at his palace and discussed the matter in presence of chief administrator of Sri Jagannath Temple Suresh Mohapatra, Puri SP, Collector and members of Chhatisa Niyog (a servitors' group).