Servitors to seek PM's intervention in Jagamohan repair

Puri: A team of servitors of Puri Sri Jagannath temple will meet the Prime Minister Narendra Modi to apprise him of the issues related to the repair of the Jagamohan, the hall facing the sanctum sanctorum of the 12th century Lord Jagannath shrine in Puri.

This was decided at a meeting chaired by Shree Jagannath Temple Administraton (SJTA) chief administrator Suresh Mohapatra on Saturday.

Servitors from eight nijogs of the temple expressed displeasure over the style of functioning of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), which is tasked with the repair work. The meeting was also attended by SJTA managing committee members.

Notably, Director General (DG) of the ASI had rejected the estimate made by the core committee and formed a panel led by joint DG of ASI to reinspect the Jagamohan condition and make a fresh plan and estimate.

The core committee had estimated an expenditure of Rs 2.5 crore towards purchase of stainless steel to be used in the repair work. A high level meeting of ASI held on May 5 in Delhi disapproved of such a plan and formed another committee for survey.

Disapproving the ASI's move, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday seeking his urgent intervention to save the decrepit Jagmohan.