Bhubaneswar, May 19: A team of the Pradesh Congress Committee, led by Opposition leader Narasingha Mishra and its state unit president Prassad Harichandan, today went to Puri to see the condition of Jagmohan, the prayer hall of the Jagannath temple, which is in a precarious condition.

Yesterday, chief minister Naveen Patnaik had visited the temple to assess the damage to the Jagmohan.

Today after inspecting the temple, Harichandan said: "The state government should issue a white paper on the condition of the temple. The present situation is the result of the state government's delayed reaction to the crisis."

He also alleged that the repair of the Jagmohan had been put on hold just for Rs 2.5 crore, which would be required for putting a steel frame to support the structure as recommended by the core committee.

Mishra said: "There is a need for immediate repair of the Jagmohan, otherwise anything may happen to the structure."

In another development, state-level technical committee working chairman G.C. Mitra, who has tendered his resignation protesting against delay in temple repair by the ASI, today said: "I will attend the core committee meeting to be held at the chief secretary level. Experts from Delhi will attend it. In the meeting, I will present our case and explain why it is necessary to go for immediate repair of the Jagmohan."

Official sources said the expert team, led by the Union culture secretary and the ASI DG, would reach Bhubaneswar tomorrow, go to Puri and examine the Jagmohan's condition. Later in the evening, they will hold a meeting with the chief secretary.

Considering that Lord Jagannath is attached to the sentiment of the people of the state, race has begun among the parties to score brownie points on the issue.

Union minister of state for petroleum and natural gas Dharmendra Pradhan said: "The team will also meet Puri Gajapati and take everyone's opinion before finalising a blueprint for the temple's conservation."

BJD's spokesperson Pratap Keshari Deb said: "The ASI should not make any more delay in the repair of the Puri temple. Otherwise it will meet the fate of the Konark shrine."

The Puri Bar Association today held demonstration before the Jagannath temple and the temple administration office demanding immediate repair of the temple.

In yet another development, a PIL was filed today in Orissa High Court seeking intervention of the court for effective repair of the Jagmohan. Social activist Abhishek Das filed the PIL seeking the court's direction for formation of a committee to supervise the temple repair.