Complete Jagmohan repair on war-footing: Gajapati

Bhubaneswar: Puri King Gajapati Maharaj Dibya Singh Dev on Monday called for early completion of the repair work of Jagamohan, the hall facing the sanctum sanctorum of the 12th century Lord Jagannath shrine in Puri.

Talking to newsmen here, the Puri King said it’s high time the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) started the work.

“Now we have to ensure that the restoration work must begin at the earliest with the best available scientific technique. They (ASI) must begin the work on war footing and complete it at the earliest. We have very little time for the whole process,” he stated.

While stressing on quality of the reconstruction work, Singh Dev maintained that it must begin without much delay.

“I personally feel setting up of a stainless steel frame inside the temple as suggested by the core committee will take time. Besides, erecting pillars and other related works are also time consuming processes. It’s not a day's work. But a qualitative repair work must be ensured and it should be completed in such a way that we should not worry about it for the next 200 years,” he stated adding the matter should not be politicised.

Official sources said the Central agency was "concerned at the rickety state of Jagmohan but wanted to go about the repair works in a scientific and methodical manner.”

ASI sources said that the repair work in the temple have become more difficult as the beams supporting the outer room in front of the sanctum sanctorum were in a fragile condition.