Bhubaneswar, Nov 22: Odisha Law Minister Prithviraj Harichandan has announced that the long-awaited inventory of the Ratna Bhandar of the Puri Shree Jagannath Temple will begin soon, following the preparation of a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP).

The temple administration is currently drafting the SOP, which will be sent to the state government for approval. Once approved, the counting and verification process will commence.

Harichandan stated that officials from the Reserve Bank of India will be requested to participate in the process to ensure transparency. Before the inventory begins, the condition of the ornaments will be thoroughly examined. The entire exercise is expected to take two and a half to three months.

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The Odisha Minister clarified that the counting will be conducted inside the inner Ratna Bhandar and will be compared with the records of the last inventory carried out in 1978. Digital photography of the ornaments will also be undertaken to ensure proper documentation and preservation. “The preservation of ornaments is of utmost importance to us,” Harichandan emphasized.

He further addressed the issue of the silver bricks belonging to Emar Matha, noting that according to the Sidh Matha judgment, the property of the matha legally belongs to Lord Jagannath. “From that perspective, all rights of Emar Matha’s assets should rest with Lord Jagannath. Legal processes are underway, and steps will be taken to resolve the matter,” he said.

Harichandan added that there is a collective desire among devotees and citizens to bring the silver bricks into the Ratna Bhandar, ensuring they remain part of the temple’s heritage.

This announcement marks a significant step in addressing long-standing concerns about the Ratna Bhandar’s condition and inventory, which has been a subject of public debate for decades.