The Ratna Bhandar or treasure trove of the 12th century Puri Shree Jagannath Temple will be opened soon, chief minister Mohan Charan Majhi said on Sunday.
It will soon be opened for inspection and repair. The government is also preparing to make an inventory of the ornaments stored inside. Sources said the Ratna Bhandar will be opened during the Rath Yatra.
Chief minister Mohan Charan Majhi made an announcement to this effect on Sunday while addressing a function organised by the BJP in Bhubaneswar to felicitate the newly elected BJP MLAs and MPs.
Majhi also announced that the Subhadra scheme will be launched on September 17, coinciding with the birthday of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Under the scheme, women will get a voucher of ₹50,000 to be encashed over two years.
On the issue of the Ratna Bhandar, Majhi said, “There seems to be a question on people’s minds but I want to make it clear that the Ratna Bhandar will be opened soon. The inventory of the precious ornaments and jewellery will be made when the treasury is opened.”
Majhi also said, “If we find any lapses or irregularities, we will take stern action against those found guilty.” Sources said Majhi was referring to matching the number of jewellery with the inventory records done in the past.
The Rath Yatra begins on July 7. The deities will leave the temple and embark on a nine-day sojourn. They will return to their abode on July 15, remain on the chariots for four more days and finally enter the temple on July 19.
“During that 12-day gap when the deities are out of the shrine, required steps will be taken for various repair works inside the sanctum sanctorum. With the assistance of the technical team, the Ratna Bhandar will be opened. We will thoroughly inspect the Ratna Bhandar,” said a source in the ASI (Archaeological Survey of India).
In a 2018 report, the ASI had highlighted the need for repair of Ratna Bhandar. “We have already done the laser scan of the Ratna Bhandar. Significant cracks exist and many iron rods have been destroyed. Rainwater might be seeping from these cracks, necessitating immediate attention and repair,” said an official.
