Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik takes up Jagannath temple repair work with PM Modi

Bhubaneswar: With a statewide hue and cry over the safety of Sri Jagannath temple's Jagamohan, Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Tuesday took up the matter with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and sought his immediate intervention to ensure quick repair work.

"It (condition of Jagamohan) is a very serious matter for all of us," Patnaik told the Prime Minister over phone, according to an official release issued by the Chief Minister's Office Bhubaneswar.

"The Prime Minister assured the CM he will give necessary instruction to the ASI for taking it up in an urgent manner," the release said.

Though Patnaik had earlier written a letter to Modi and drawn his attention on the condition of the Jagamohan, the prayer hall in the 12th century shrine, the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) allegedly delayed the repair work, sparking anxiety among the people.

The matter took a new turn this week when chief of the technical core committee of ASI, G C Mitra who was looking after the conservation of the temple resigned from his post.

After Mitra's resignation, a member of the committee N C Pal also said the Jagamohan required immediate repair for the safety of the temple as well as devotees.

The Gajapati King of Puri Divyasingha Deb also expressed concern over the distressed condition of the Jagamohan and urged both the Centre and the state government for its restoration on a war-footing basis.

Describing the condition of Jagamohan as "alarming", Gajapati said the responsibility for its repair and restoration has been taken up by the ASI.

It seems they were delaying it, Deb told reporters.

Meanwhile, Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan said the Centre would soon send a delegation headed by the Union Culture Secretary to inspect structural stability of Jagannath Temple in Puri, specially the safety of the Jagamohan.

The central team will include Director General, ASI, other senior officers and engineers of IIT-Chennai. The team will hold discussions with all the stakeholders including Odisha government for repair of Jagamohan.