The resignation of G. C. Mitra from the post of Chairman of Archaeological Survey of India’s Technical Core Committee for repair of the 900-year-old Shree Jagannath Temple, Puri, indicated that threat continued to loom over the temple.
Prof Mitra also cautioned that if steps were not taken immediately to repair the cracks, an accident cannot be ruled out in future.
“Four columns of Jagamohana structure, the prayer hall of the temple complex, have developed cracks everywhere. Cracks were also visible on beams those are resting on column heads. Similarly, the span of beam had also crack marks,” said the eminent engineer.
“Will you afford to stay in your house whose beam and column had cracks? Why should we expect Lord Jagannath is safe inside the temple,” he observed.
The resignation has come in wake of ASI’s rejection of recommendations of technical committee on repair of Jagamohana.
A couple of days ago, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik had drawn the attention of Prime Minister Narendra Modi over distressed condition of “Jagamohana” which needs emergency structural intervention. “I have been informed that the condition is alarming due to severe deterioration in its critical structural components resulting in dislodging and cracking of capitol stone layers atop the pillar head of the four central columns besides extensive structural cracks in the stone beams over these columns supporting the pyramidal roofing structure,” Mr. Patnaik had mentioned in his letter to the PM. Chief Minister also pointed out disapproval of recommendations of technical committee by the ASI Director-General saying the latter had not proposed any alternative solution.
