Senior IAS officer Pradipta Kumar Mohapatra took charge as the Chief Administrator of the Shree Jagannath Temple Administration on Friday.
Mohapatra visited the Shreemandir and paid obeisance to the three deities before taking charge as the SJTA chief here.
The appointment of Mohapatra replacing Pradeep Kumar Jena assumes significance as the Ratna Bhandar keys missing issue remains a matter of discussion in all spheres and a judicial probe into missing keys is also underway.
Asked to comment on the missing of keys, Mohapatra said he has just assumed office and it would not be appropriate for him to comment anything on the issue, particularly as the Government has ordered a judicial probe into the case.
Mohapatra said his prime responsibility would be to ensure that the upcoming Rath Yatra is conducted smoothly. He said he would soon discuss preparations for the annual festival with all stakeholders. “Safety of tourists and devotees and smooth conduct of Rath Yatra are our main focus areas,” he said On the Supreme Court’s directives about the Jagannath Temple management, he said, “We have convened a meeting with all stakeholders, including servitors, and will seek their suggestions so that an affidavit can be filed within the stipulated time.”