Cracks Develop In Puri Shrine

[JANASENA]

 

The Puri Jagannath Temple. Photo: Lingaraj Panda

 

 

Worried over the cracks being detected in the 12th century Shri Jagannath shrine at Puri, Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Monday urged the Centre to send technical experts to oversee the repair and restoration of the temple.

Mr. Patnaik, in a letter to Union Culture Minister Mahesh Sharma, said, “Since this is a matter of urgent public importance, I seek your personal intervention to direct the Archaeological Survey of India to send their top technical experts for repairing and restoration works at the earliest.”

Shri Jagannath Temple is the holiest shrine in Odisha and an institution of unique importance in India, he said.

Mr. Patnaik said: “After de-plastering of the inner surface of the Jagamohan, it was noticed the four column capitals and the eight stone beams have serious cracks which might affect its structural stability.”