Jagmohan repair: Odisha asks ‘unconvinced’ ASI to make own design

Puri: After the ASI disagreed with the steel box-type portal frame design for the Jagmohan of Srimandir prepared by the Public Works department (PWD) and warned of issuing a no-risk certificate, the PWD secretary has written a letter to the ASI DG citing that the design should be prepared by the agency which is in charge of the maintenance of the temple.

“If the ASI is not convinced with the design made by the Core Committee, then they may prepare the design by their own in-house team to ensure ‘safety and no risk’ as referred to by the Joint Director (Conservation). Nothing also prevents ASI to engage experts for preparation of the no risk design,” wrote the Works department secretary in reply to ASI’s feedback on the core committee design.

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On the other hand, the Orissa High Court has directed the ASI to submit an affidavit on the design that has been prepared and the deadline by which the work will be completed. The servitors have also demanded the work completion deadline from the ASI.

“There is no coherence between the affidavits which were submitted earlier. Hence the court has directed them to inform about what work needs to be done, what has been approved and other details in an affidavit,” said petitioner’s lawyer, Ashok Kumar Mohapatra.

“A meeting should be convened with the presence of Works department and ASI authorities pertaining to the state of affairs relating to the repair of the Jagmohan chamber of the Srimandir, about which we have been kept in the dark,” said senior Daitapati servitor, Binayak Dasmohapatra.