Cuttack, Sept. 14: The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) today told Orissa High Court that it would require at least 10 months to complete restoration of the Jagmohan at the Puri Jagannath temple.
On August 29, the court had asked the ASI to file an affidavit with the "time frame in which the incomplete work as well as the work which are yet to be started would be completed".
The Jagmohan rests on four central stone columns. These columns are further supported by eight stone beams. The sloped walls on the four sides, called corbels, have two layers . The stone beams have developed cracks, as a result of which, they fail to transmit the load to the columns, destabilising the Jagmohan.
Ashok Kumar Patel, the ASI's director (archaeology), Delhi, said in his affidavit the work of constructing stainless steel portal frames to support the stone beams in the form of boxes, "may be completed by June 2017". The work on the columns is yet to start.
"Design for the frame is being revised with necessary modifications by the technical committee of ASI in consultation with the temple administration. It will be shared with IIT, Chennai, and the ASI for finalisation and approval," Patel said in his affidavit.
The ASI also plans to strengthen the stone columns by jacketing them with stainless steel sheets. "Commencing from October 1, it will take 150 working days of six hours per day - February 2017".
"A design for this work has been prima facie accepted by the ASI, core committee and temple administration. Work will be taken up on receipt of approval of detailed design and estimate from ASI headquarters," the affidavit said.
The ASI also plans to strengthen the Jagmohan's pillar heads. "A detailed design along with cost estimate has been submitted to the director general, ASI, for approval. The temple administration will start work soon. This work will take around 60 working days of minimum six working hours per day - November 30," Patel's affidavit said.
He said the work of fixing steel pocket frames inside the Jagmohan, "which has been taken up by Shree Jagannath Temple Administration, is expected to be completed by April 30, 2017".
