The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), which faced flak for the sluggish pace of its conservation work at Shri Jagannath Temple, Puri, here on Thursday exuded confidence that work would be completed in the current financial year – before Nabakalebar festival.
A delegation of ASI, led by Simadri Bihari Ota, Regional Director of ASI, Kolkata, inspected conservation work at Shri Jagannath Temple and Konark Temple on Thursday.
“We are now proceeding with our assignment in a timeframe. We hope to complete the work within this fiscal,” said Mr. Ota.
According to the ASI, the conservation of Kalasa – the top portion of temple - has been completed successfully. Fifteen layers of the damaged portion have been replaced.
“The iron dowels have been replaced with stainless steel pins. The iron nut-bolts of Nilachakra, Jagamohana (Jagannath temple) were replaced with brass nut bolts. The shaft of Nilachakra has been painted with three different layers of anti-corrosion paint by the science branch of ASI as per the suggestions of the core committee,” he said.
“The work of carefully removing the damaged stones and resetting the loose stones of Pilli mandira of Simhadwara has also been successfully completed. The work of removal and replacement of damaged stones with new ones is carried out in Simhadwara. After completion of the work, the scaffolding has been removed,” the ASI official informed.
It needs to be mentioned that the State government, expressing concern over slow pace of conservation works in Puri Temple, urged the Union Culture Ministry to ensure that the ASI expedites renovation work.
The government raised the problem of humidity and temperature in the Garvagriha (sanctum sanctorum and wanted the problem to be fixed before the Nabakalebar festival scheduled in July, 2015.
Mr. Ota said, “Our experts would work on a 24-hour basis in Garvagriha during the car festival, which is scheduled for June 29. Only during this time could one enter Garvagriha and do some conservation work.”
The Nabakalebar festival that marks replacing of idols of Lord Balabhadra, Lord Jagannath and Devi Subhadra with new idols in 12th-century-old Shri Jagannath Temple is expected to draw nearly 50 lakh devotees to Puri during 2015.
