Bhubaneswar, April 20: Law Minister Prithviraj Harichandan on Sunday informed that if timely restoration work had not commenced, the Ratna Bhandar (treasure chamber) of the Jagannath Temple in Puri could have potentially collapsed due to years of neglect and accumulated damage.
Harichandan said that although the chamber stood firm for nearly 200 years, recent structural assessments revealed that the ancient treasure chamber was at risk of collapse.
“If repair work had not begun now, the chamber might have given way anytime,” the Minister told media persons here.
He confirmed that restoration work is currently underway, with the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) overseeing the delicate process.
Harichandan emphasized that the ASI is not being pressured to expedite the restoration work.
The repairs are being conducted with utmost care, respecting the temple’s sanctity and historical value, he added.
The aim of the repair work is to ensure the Ratna Bhandar remains structurally sound for the next 100 to 200 years, the Minister informed.
