With the grand festival of Nabakalebar of Shree Jagannath at Puri nearing, the State Government has urged the Union Culture Ministry to expedite the restoration and renovation works in the Shree Mandir and complete them well before the festival next year.
Chief Secretary Jugal Kishore Mohapatra has written a letter to Union Culture Secretary Rabindra Singh to this effect.
“The pace of progress and urgency to complete the conservation works by the ASI appear to be sluggish. You are aware that we have a fairly tight time schedule in view of the Nabakalebar festival scheduled in July 2015. The nagging problem of humidity and temperature inside the Garva Griha (sanctum sanctorum) also remains unresolved,” Mohapatra said in the letter
The chief secretary has requested Singh to advise the DG (ASl), Director (Conservation), Director (Science) and other senior officials of ASI to expedite the works and resolve all issues relating to conservation of the Jagannath temple.
Appraising Singh that Rath Yatra falls on June 29 this year and inspection of Garva Griha has been scheduled at 10 am on July 2, Mohapatra wanted that representatives of the ASI’s two technical committees formed for the temple’s conservation participate in the scheduled inspection.
It may be mentioned here that conducting inspections, carrying routine conservation work and emergency rectification works inside the sanctum sanctorum are only possible during the annual 12-day Rath Yatra as the deities remain outside during the period.