Plan of Puri temple's Jagmohan conservation on anvihttp

BHUBANESWAR | Thursday, August 4, 2011


Plan of Puri temple's Jagmohan conservation on anvil


The State Government would write to the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) to release the Rs 1.76 crore meant for undertaking conservation of the Jagmohan of the Sri Jagannath Temple at Puri, said Chief Secretary BK Patnaik.

Talking to reporters on Tuesday after a high-level meeting on conservation of the temple, Patnaik said that the ASI would also be asked to take up conservation of the structure to be completed prior to the Navakalevar festival in 2015.

He said that it has been decided that the ASI Director General would be asked to inspect the temple with a high-level technical committee and assess the situation so as to start conservation work of the12th-century shrine. The ASI would also be asked not to take up renovation during important festivals like Kartika Purnima, Snana Purnima and Rath Yatra when large numbers of devotees visit the temple. The State Works Department authorities have also been asked to be in constant touch with the ASI and find out suitable chemical preservatives for conservation of the temple and its architecture.

According to sources, conservation of the Jagmohan was proposed by an expert committee in 2006, and the ASI had estimated Rs 1.76 crore for the purpose.

The conservation measures would be undertaken in two phases, structural conservation and chemical preservation. The proposed operations are mainly resetting of bulging masonry, replacement of damaged and missing architectural members, sealing of joints, grouting of voids in the masonry, anchoring of loose cantilevers, desalination of the external fascia stones by paper pulp technique and application of chemicals.

The committee had suggested for removal of thick coat of plaster, which is about 45-cm-deep form the main and all subsidiary temples.

The committee opined that this coat puts extra pressure on the fabrics of the temple and cannot check saline induced deterioration and leakages.

Though the conservation work could not be taken up due to opposition of Sevayats and Chhatisaa Nijog, meanwhile a consensus has been reached for the work as the condition of the Jagmohan has been deteriorating.



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