ASI has been the overall in-charge of the protection and preservation of the temple since 1975.
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Bhubaneswar: Coming down heavily on the Archaeological Survey India (ASI) Director General (DG) for not giving due attention to the fix of the Jagamohan, the prayer hall of 12th century Jagannth Temple in Puri, senior BJP leader on Sunday cautioned ASI DG to be responsible if any further damage happens to the Jagamohan, facing the sanctum sanctorum.
Modi assured him that the to Archaeological Survey of India would be given necessary directions for its fix, a release from the chief minister’s office said.
“It (condition of Jagamohan) is a very serious matter for all of us”, Patnaik told the Prime Minister over phone, according to an official release issued by the Chief Minister’s Office Bhubaneswar. Naveen had also reminded Modi about the 11th century Sun Temple at Konark facing an unfortunate cave-in incident and the temple’s Jagmohan had to be filled in with sand to avoid further collapse. He also expressed concern over the dilly-dallying attitude of the ASI.
The central team will include Director General, ASI, other senior officers and engineers of IIT-Chennai.
Talking to newsmen, Sri Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) chief administrator Suresh Mohapatra said, “The Chief Minister himself went inside the Jagamohan and we briefed him about the cracks that have emerged on the beams and columns on it”. “Immediate steps need to be taken to save the temple”, he said. “Now he has rushed to the temple after being criticised by different quarters”, senior BJP leader Bijay Mohapatra said.
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A section of sevayats already said they would approach the Prime Minister and seek his intervention.
