Decision On Opening of Ratna Bhandar (treasure trove) of Puri Srimandir will be taken on July 9

Puri:6/7/24: A decision regarding the opening of Ratna Bhandar (treasure trove) of Puri Srimandir will be taken in the next meeting on July 9, informed Justice Biswanath Rath.

The high-level committee was recently constituted by the Odisha government to supervise the reopening of Ratna Bhandar for repair and inventory of valuables.

Rath made 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.

Justice Rath further informed that Ratna Bhandar will be opened by breaking the locks if the keys do not work. According to Rath, a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) will be prepared in this regard and it will be presented before the government.

“Repairing work could not be done by keeping the ornaments inside Ratna Bhandar and hence shifting is required. The managing committee will decide where the ornaments will be shifted and how it will be kept there,” said Rath.

“Another Committee will be formed to prepare the modalities for the inventory of valuables. We will not be able to identify the ornaments. Hence, a sub-committee will be formed for the work. It took more than 70 days to complete the counting work last time. This time it is expected that the work will be completed earlier due to the availability of advanced technology. We will only suggest who will be in charge of the inventory work. We are hopeful that all the ornaments will be shifted and the repairing work of Ratna Bhandar will start before the return of the deities to Srimandir,” he added.