File picture of the ASI officials carrying out renovation of Jagannath temple

Bhubaneswar, June 12: As the holy Trinity in the 12th century Jagannath temple in Puri are all set for the snana purnima ritual tomorrow, the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) hopes that the shrine’s repair will be over much before the Nabakalebar festival next year.

Ideally, major renovation of the temple should be over before March 2015 in view of the Nabakalebar, but the ASI officials are confident that the entire gamut of work would end by December 2014.

Talking to The Telegraph, ASI regional director Simadri Bihari Ota said: “Despite having hardships such as lack of proper space near the temple to dress stones to do the renovation, the ASI people have carried out a good job. The simha dwar is looking nice with the khandolite stones, rightly matching the earlier ones.”

After snana purnima, the ASI people will not be allowed inside the temple, and again they could enter once the Trinity are out on their annual sojourn. “The time becomes very vital for us when the Lord and His siblings are at the Gundicha temple as we enter the sanctum sanctorum and plan our work for the inside things during the nine days. I hope that by working day and night we can finish them adhering to our timeline,” he said.

In another development, the conservation of the kalasa of Jagamohan has been carried out by the way of replacing 15 layers of the damaged and small khandolite stones. During the process, the iron dowels were replaced with stainless steel pins, iron nuts and bolts with brass-made alternatives. The shaft of the Nilachakra has also been given anti-corrosion treatment by the science branch of the ASI.

The conservation authority has also done the resetting of steps near the north gate. But, the rising road and drain levels outside the temple compound have caused a serious concern for the ASI experts.

“I have taken up the issue with the temple and district administrations, so that they can ask the agency to make changes in the road level. It has to be ensured that the rainwater from the temple gets an easy access to go out,” Ota said.

Konark progress

The ASI regional head, who is on his second visit to Odisha, said the first phase laser scanning and ground penetrating radar survey carried out by the Central Building Research Institute, Roorkee, on the Sun Temple, had been received.

After studying the report, the ASI will again tell the institute to conduct its phase-II study, which, however, will be mainly on the stability and structural aspect of the 13th century monument.

The chemical cleaning of the intricately crafted stonework at the world heritage monument has already been started. It is done with two procedures — clean the surface with paper pulp and the other with stone strengthening chemicals to let the artwork last longer.

The waterlogging problem on the premises is over since last year with implementation of an efficient drainage outlet.

The ASI officer, however, sought the government’s intervention in removing vendors from near the main entrance to the shrine.

Already in 2005, the ASI gave them monetary compensation to relocate, and the state government allotted them plots as well. But once again, many have come and appeared there once again.

“As Konark is a valued world heritage site, the local authorities should immediately take action to remove the crowd from near its entrance. It will also add to the beauty of the site,” Ota said.