BHUBANESWAR: The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has assured the Odisha Government that conservation and repair of Jagannath Temple at Puri will be completed before Nabakalebara festival next year.
Regional Director of ASI, Kolkata, Shimadri Bihari Ota visited the 12th century shrine on Thursday and took stock of the progress of some of major renovation works undertaken by the Central conservation agency.
During the review, Ota was informed that the conservation of ‘kalasa’ or top dome of Jagamohana has been completed. The ASI replaced 15 layers of damaged and small khandolite stones with new and bigger ones.
While the old iron dowels of Nilachakra have been replaced with stainless steel pins and iron nut bolts, those of Jagamohana have been changed with brass ones.
The Science branch of ASI, which has been working on it, has given three coatings of anti-corrosion paints to the shaft of Nilachakra. All these works have been carried out as per the recommendations of the core committee.
Similarly, the damaged stones of Pilli Mandir of Lions Gate have been removed and loose stones reset. A similar exercise was carried out at Lions Gate following which the scaffoldings have been removed.
The ASI, which has communicated the State Government about the status of these activities, informed that resetting of steps at the north ‘gumuta’ has been completed by replacing the damaged stones with new ones whereas construction of the dwarf wall to the east of the Meghanada Prachira is currently underway. The damaged laterite stone wall has been pulled down.
The ASI said it has completed eviction of the encroachments of Pratihari Niyoga as per the orders of the Orissa High Court.
