PURI: Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has asked Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) and the State’s Works Department to complete Jagmohan repair work of Jagannath temple in the next four months. The repair works had been stopped due to the Rath Yatra.
Naveen, who visited the temple on Wednesday, took stock of the repair works and interacted with ASI, temple administration officials and engineers of the Works Department. “Offered gratitude in Sri Mandir for successful completion of #Rath Yatra & #ACC (Asian Athletics Championship) 2017. Prayed for prosperity of our people,” the Chief Minister tweeted after his Puri visit.
Later in the day, the temple administrator PK Jena held a meeting of the temple managing body and Nijogs (servitor associations), which was also attended by ASI officials and members of the technical committee.
It was resolved to complete the repair works and beautify the steel brackets, columns and beams fixed in Jagamohan at par with the temple architecture. Engineers of Works Department and ASI would carry out the work for eight hours daily. Floor of the Jagamohan would be renovated while the inner roof would be decorated with traditional art work by the temple chitrakaras (painters).
The repair work of the Jagamohan, the assembly hall which faces the sanctum sanctorum of the 13th century temple, began in early 2016. The State Government had constituted a body of experts from ASI, engineers of Works Department and structural experts to monitor the repair and conservation of the temple. The members included ASI Superintendent, Bhubaneswar circle, Hemasagar Abhay Naik, Er PK Bhattacharjee, senior conservator CR Das, engineer NC Pal and superintendent engineer Bindheswar Patra.
Earlier in May, the core committee members had reviewed the work in May and informed that major works such as fixing capitol stone, reinforcing damaged pillars with steel frames, columns and vertical beams have been completed.