‘Water seepage’: ASI flags concern in HC over Jagannath temple’s Ratna Bhandar

ASI superintending archaeologist of Puri circle in an affidavit said that during the 2018 inspection of the outer chamber of Ratna Bhandar, the ASI team found a hollow sound from the walls

Updated on: Aug 7, 2023, 21:04:44 IST

By Debabrata Mohanty

Prefer HTon Google

Share via

Copy link

BHUBANESWAR: The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) on Monday told the Orissa high court that the Ratna Bhandar of the 12th century Jagannath temple has weakened with water seeping into it.

The temple administration said last week that there was gold jewellery weighing about 149.47 kg and silver jewellery weighing 198.79 kg in Ratna Bhandar

ASI superintending archaeologist of Puri circle in an affidavit said that during the 2018 inspection of the outer chamber of Ratna Bhandar - the chamber inside the temple’s sanctum sanctorum that has jewellery, several valuables and precious stones of the deities - the ASI team found a hollow sound from the walls.

“Some stones had fallen down, and there was water seepage as well. The plaster seems to have become weak at some place. A final decision on the structuration of Ratna Bhandar can be done after inspection of the interior. The committee may be allowed to enter inside and inspect the Ratna Bhandar interior structural and archaeological details under proper lighting system,” the affidavit submitted by superintendent of archaeology (Puri Mandal) Dibishad Garnaik said, adding that the data regarding its construction or inner dimensions were not available.

“It is a bland structure, with whitewashing on the surface.”

The ASI affidavit said it sent a letter to the chief administrator of Jagannath Temple, Puri in August 2022 to seek permission to inspect the interior portion of Ratna Bhandar of Shree Jagannath temple, but never got permission.

Last week, the Jagannath temple managing committee decided to request the Odisha government to allow the Archaeological Survey of India to reopen and repair the Ratna Bhandar during Rath Yatra 2024. The committee also requested the state government to constitute a high-level committee with a retired Supreme Court justice to supervise the entire operation of reopening and repair of the inner Ratna Bhandar.

In an affidavit filed in high court last week, the temple administration said there was gold jewellery weighing about 149.47 kg and silver jewellery weighing 198.79 kg and utensils in the Ratna Bhandar while stressing that it is not necessary to do a further inventory as the properties/valuables were intact.

The affidavit was in response to a public interest litigation filed by one Dillip Kumar Mohapatra who wanted the Ratna Bhandar to be opened for conducting an inventory of the valuables, arguing that the Jagannath Temple Act, 1955, provided for this exercise to be conducted every three years. However, the treasury was last opened and audited from May 13 to July 23, 1978.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Debabrata Mohanty
Debabrata Mohanty is a senior assistant editor of Hindustan Times who works as state correspondent from Odisha covering the state's politics, governance, public policy, natural disasters, environment and its society for close to three decades. With his long years of reporting from the state capital of Bhubaneswar, Mohanty has been known as one of the most experienced and credible journalists covering Odisha for the national English dailies. His reporting combines on-ground detail with deep institutional knowledge detailing the state's changing politics, governance issues, administrative reforms and the functioning of its public institutions. He has regularly reported on issues ranging from legislative developments and public policy implementation. Politics is his core areas of expertise as he closely tracks Odisha's political landscape, including the rise and transformation of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the Biju Janata Dal (BJD), the two principal political parties in Odisha. His long association with the state's political establishment enables him to write on contemporary developments in a larger political context. Mohanty takes a deep interest in writing human interest stories, environmental issues and documenting the impact of cyclones, floods, heatwaves, and other climate-related events in one of the most disaster-prone states. His coverage extends to public health, governance reforms and stories on accountability of government institutions. Before joining Hindustan Times, Mohanty worked with The Indian Express, Mail Today, and The Telegraph, where he covered at least six general elections and as many assembly elections. In 2007, he was selected for the prestigious Chevening Young Indian Print Journalist Programme at the University of Lincoln, United Kingdom, where he received advanced training in print journalism. In 2009 he won the Press Institute of India-International Committee of Red Cross award on conflict reporting for his on-ground reportage of 2008 Kandhamal riots.Read More

Get the latest India News, breaking headlines and real-time updates from across the country. Stay informed about politics, government policies, crime, weather and major national developments.