PURI: A new cooling mechanism prepared by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) would be installed in the 'Garbhagriha' (Sanctum Sanctorum) of Shri Jagannath Temple here within seven days, officials said.
The Rs 24 lakh cooling system was required as heat generated in the 'Garbhagriha' of the 12th century shrine has been affecting longevity of the temple.
A seven-member ASI team today inspected ventilation system of the 'Garvagriha' prior to set up the new mechanism, officials said.
The team headed by Dr AP Gupta, former head of Civil Engineering Department of IIT-Kharagpur, was assisted by officials of temple administration and state public works department.
As the presiding deities of the temple have left for a nine-day sojourn on the occasion of Rath Jatra, this is the appropriate time to undertake the conservation work inside the Sanctum Sanctorum, officials said.
The state government had urged the Centre to expedite the conservation of the temple by ASI last year.
Though a ventilation system in the sanctum Sanctorum had been set up earlier, it did not work properly due to technical flaw.