Bhubaneswar: The state government is set to begin the long-awaited inventory of gold ornaments and pearls stored in the Ratna Bhandar of the Puri Jagannath Temple.
This decision follows a high-level review meeting presided over by Chief Minister Shri Mohan Charan Majhi at Lok Seva Bhawan, where officials confirmed that all preliminary preparations and structural repairs have been finalized.
The meeting saw the participation of Law Minister Shri Prithviraj Harichandan, Chief Secretary Shrimati Anu Garg, ACS to CM shri Saswat Mishra, ACS Revenue & Chief Administrator SJTA, Dr.Arabinda Kumar Padhee, Principal Secretary Law, Dr.Pabitra Mohan Samal, and other senior officials, including the Puri District Magistrate.
During the session, Shrimandir Chief Administrator Dr. Arabinda Kumar Padhee reported that the Archaeological Survey of India has completed the conservation of both the inner and outer chambers of the treasury, a task that required 333 hours of labor over 95 days. With the physical repairs concluded, the temple administration and the state government are now shifting focus to the formal counting and documentation of the deity’s valuables.
The Shrimandir Management Committee has already drafted a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) to ensure the process remains transparent and secure. Once the state government grants formal approval, the inventory will commence under strict security protocols. This marks the first comprehensive census of the treasury since 1978, and officials noted that the new findings will be meticulously cross-referenced with the records from 48 years ago. To modernize the documentation, the administration plans to create a digital catalogue featuring high-resolution photographs of every item.
Beyond the treasury inventory, the Chief Minister also addressed the logistics for the upcoming Rath Yatra. Recognizing the high demand for Phasi and sandalwood required for chariot construction, Chief Minister Shri Majhi instructed the forest department to submit a formal proposal for dedicated tree plantation projects to ensure a sustainable future supply.