Puri: As per earlier decision, the Ratna Bhandar, the revered treasury of the Jagannath temple here, was reopened again today at 9.51 AM for shifting of the ornaments and valuables stored inside the inner chamber of the Bhandar.
After offering prayers before the Lord Jagannath and his siblings on their chariots near the temple, the committee set up by the State Government for the purpose entered the temple around 9 AM and reopened it at 9.51 AM Subha Bela.
Puri Collector Siddharth Shankar Swain informed that the authorized members entered into the treasury with traditional attire. If the shifting work will not be completed today, the further work will be done as per the SOP, he said.
Meanwhile, Puri Gajapati Maharaja Dibyasingha Deb visited the Ratna Bhandar to supervise the ongoing works.
Speaking to media persons, the King said, “The Khatasheja Ghara is being used as temporary strong room. Ornaments and valuables from the inner chamber of Ratna Bhandar will be shifted to the Khatasheja Ghara amid high security.”
After shifting of the valuables, the Khatasheja room will be sealed and repair work of the Bhandar will be done by ASI, he said.
He informed that inventory work will begin only after the repair work is completed by the ASI and the valuables restored inside the Ratna Bhandar, the Puri King said.
He said that the almirahs and chests inside the inner chamber of Ratna Bhandar are intact and the process of moving and shifting has already begun. Once the almirahs will be removed, the ASI can ascertain whether any secret chamber is there inside the Ratna Bhandar or not, the King said.
“High-security system like installation of CCTVs and special secure doors have been used at the temporary strong room. Today, all the ornaments and valuables will be kept inside, after that, the room will be locked and sealed. As per the Temple Rules, the SJTA chief administrator would deposit the keys in treasury,” Shri Deb said.
As per the SOP, security arrangements have been made like installation of CCTVs, deployment of security personnel and around the temple, said Puri SP Pinak Mishra
Last time, the treasury was opened on July 14 at 1.28 pm. On that day, the ornaments and valuables of the outer chamber of Bhandar were shifted to a strong room. Today, the valuables of the inner chamber will be shifted to another strong room. After proper scanning, the Ratna Bhandar will be handed over to the ASI to carry out required repair works.