After coming under severe criticism from opposition parties for not visiting the Jagannath Temple to personally see the damage caused to the Jagamohan, a hall facing sanctum sanctorum, which is in a dilapidated condition, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Wednesday rushed to Puri to take stock of the situation.
Patnaik, who spent nearly 30 minutes in the 12th-Century shrine, saw the damage and was briefed about the current status of the prayer hall by Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) Chief Administrator Suresh Chandra Mohapatra and temple servitors.
After coming out from the temple, Patnaik told reporters, “I have seen the damage that has been done to the Jagmohan. On May 20, a Central team, led by Union Culture Secretary and the ASI Director General (DG), will visit the temple. After their review, we will take a decision,” he said.
“I spoke to the Prime Minister in this regard yesterday and told him the need for early repair of the Jagmohan. As far the Mandir is concerned, my Government will take all necessary steps for repair of the Jagmohan,” added Patnaik.
Meanwhile, SJTA Chief Administrator Mohapatra after holding meeting with eleven Nijogs (servitor groups) said the Central team would spend two hours in the temple on Friday to inspect the Jagamohan. later, the team would meet Gajapati Maharaja Dibyasingh Deb.
Then, the team would leave for Bhubaneswar, where it is scheduled to meet the Chief Secretary and other senior Government officials to chalk out detailed plans to start Jagamohan repair work.
Mohapatra said the SJTA has requested GC Mitra, who was heading the core technical committee on Jagamohan repair, to withdraw his resignation and to remain present on Friday during the visit of the Central team. “He is connected with the repair of the temple for last 25 years. We have urged him to remain present on Friday,” said Mohapatra.