Puri: The long-awaited laser scanning of the Ratna Bhadar in Jagannath temple at Odisha’s pilgrim town of Puri has been completed by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI).
The process of laser scanning of Ratna Bhandar, which was started by a 15-member team of the ASI, is now complete, an ASI official said. Architects and experts in surveillance and photography were part of the laser scanning exercise.
Laser scanning on a total of 45 points of the north side and upper part of the Ratna Bhandar was carried out.
Giving details, Superintendent Archaeologist of the ASI DB Garnaik said, during surface scanning, the images were captured by ASI technician. The raw images will be converted to another format with the help of software which will facilitate us to examine a particular point of the structure and conduct required repair, he said.
If any cracks are found on the outer walls of the Ratna Bhandar, ASI will seek the permission to scan the inner Ratna Bhandar too.
The Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) has been informed about the completion of the scanning of Ratna Bhandar. The need to speed up the scanning of Natamandap has also been emphasised, he said.
Regarding the broken and damaged idols in the 12th century shrine, ASI officials said the damaged portions of the idols will be mended and not replaced as the ASI now has artists to do the job.
Notably, the temple administration had permitted the ASI for the laser scanning of the outer wall of the Ratna Bhandar to detect suspected cracks through which water is seeping inside.
The ASI team had launched the laser scanning on the outer wall of the Ratna Bhandar in presence of the members of technical core committee and management committee of the temple.
The team would submit its report on structural stability of the treasury within 15 days. The report will help in planning conservation of Ratna Bhandar.
Earlier, chief administrator of Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) Ranjan Das had told the media that the ASI’s report would be reviewed by a technical expert team. A decision on taking up repair works will be taken accordingly, he added.
It may be noted that the ASI had written to the SJTA seeking permission to examine and conserve Ratna Bhandar in 2018 and 2022.