Puri: In its first meeting, the high-level Committee headed by Justice Biswanath Rath today decided to hold another round of meeting on July 9 here to fix date for reopening of the Ratna Bhandar (Lord’s Treasury) of the Shree Jagannath temple in Puri to carry out repair work and inventory of ornaments stored inside the Lord’s Treasury.
This was informed by Justice Biswanath Rath after holding the first meeting of the panel here today. He is heading 16 Member Team for Ratna Bhandar Opening.
The State Government, two days back, formed the panel to supervise the Shree Jagannath Temple Managing Committee in carrying out the inventorisation of valuables including jewellery stored in the Ratna Bhandar.
Speaking to media persons after the meeting, Justice Rath said it clear that the duplicate keys of the Ratna Bhandar have been kept in the treasury and the Chief Administrator of Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) will present the keys before the high-level Committee in the meeting to be held on July 9.
So, it was decided to hold another meeting of the panel on July 9 to fix the date for reopening of the Ratna Bhandar, he said.
As the inner chamber of the treasury has not been opened for several decades, the lock of the door might not be working. So, the lock will be broken in such a situation, Rath said, adding, a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) will be prepared in this regard and it will be presented before the government.
It was decided in the meeting to shift the valuable ornaments of the temple to a proper place during the repair work. The temple managing committee will take a decision in this regard, he said.
Justice Rath said the SOP will also mention the inventorisation of valuables including jewellery immediately after its shifting to a safe place. The Managing Committee will also decide who will be engaged for proper inventorisation of the ornaments of the Shree Jagannath temple, he pointed out.