Archaeological expert and former IIT Kargpur professor AP Gupta, who is also the head of the core committee overseeing the repair and maintenance of the Puri Jagannath Temple, on Tuesday said the repair of the shrine’s Jagmohan cannot be delayed any further.
After undertaking a detailed examination of the Jagmohan, which is in a dilapidated condition, Gupta said, “Measures will be taken to strengthen the columns to the maximum possible extent to see to it that the beams do not collapse. These are objectives on which we will take a final decision.”
Gupta conducted his review in the presence of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) Superintendent Archaeologist, member of the Shree Mandir technical core committee and servitors of the temple. Gupta also reviewed the reports prepared by the expert team and the core committee earlier.
Following this review, a decision would be taken regarding the four pillars and beams of the Jagmohan, informed ASI and Shree Mandir administration sources.