Bhubaneswar, Apr 20: The Ratna Bhandar of the Shee Jagannath Temple, housing priceless jewels and sacred ornaments, is undergoing crucial repair to ensure its longevity for the next one to two hundred years.

Law Minister Prithviraj Harichandan stated this today. He slammed the previous BJD government, saying despite repeated warnings from the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI, the then temple administration and the Odisha government didn't open the Ratna Bhandar. Without proper repairs, the structure could have collapsed, he said.

The present BJP government has entrusted the ASI with the responsibility to replace weakened beams, without disturbing the temple's sacred environment. The repairs are conducted for a limited hour every day to ensure minimal disruption to daily rituals and devotee access.

Once the renovation is complete, the temple administration plans to make Ratna Bhanda doors gold and silver plating. Precious jewels and ornaments stored in temporary strong rooms inside the temple will be returned to their rightful place, following a meticulous inventory and video documentation, the Minister said.

The Minister said the ongoing repair work is expected to conclude before Snana Purnima so that spiritual grandeur of Jagannath Temple during the Rath Yatra can be unhampered.

The Minister said talks are underway to shift the Hundi from the Jagamohan to another place so that a queue system of Darshan can be facilitated for devotees.

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