ASI Will Repair Sri Mandir’s Ratna Bhandar Soon: Odisha Govt

Bhubaneswar: The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) of Odisha’s Puri circle will take up the conservation of Ratna Bhandar of the Shree Jagannath Temple in Puri shortly, said state Law Minister Prithiviraj Harichandan on Sunday.

“The inner and outer chambers of the Bhandar, which house precious items, have been emptied to enable ASI to do its job hassle-free. The Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) has been prepared by the government. However, it requires minor alteration. We are finalising the pros and cons of the SOP. We are intent on officially handing over the vacant Ratna Bhandar to ASI for undertaking the required conservation and repair work as early as possible,” Harichandan said.

A huge controversy had erupted as the key of the inner chamber was found to be missing in 2018 when the Orissa High Court ordered an inspection.

Speaking on the missing keys fiasco, Harichandan said, “The babus orchestrated a drama in putting brakes on the inventory of Ratna Bhandar on the pretext of the missing of keys of the treasure trove. It was a well-hatched conspiracy and those who masterminded it will be unmasked. Action will accordingly be taken against them.”

The ASI last inspected the temple in 2018 on the directions of the High Court and found structural weaknesses in the outer chamber of the Ratna Bhandar. The plaster seems to have become weak in some places, as noticed from the hollow sound upon tapping the surface.

The Ratna Bhandar comprises outer and inner chambers. While the outer chamber is used for the storage of the day-to-day ornaments of the deities, the inner chamber stores precious gold jewellery, gems, pearls, and rare diamonds, as well as silver and other decorative items that are not used for the deities’ daily rituals.