The 12th century Jagannath temple in Puri. Telegraph picture

Bhubaneswar, Aug. 2: The Orissa government has decided to urge the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) to take up expeditiously the repair work of the dilapidated 12th century Jagannath temple in Puri.

“We will write to the ASI authorities to release funds and take up the repair of Jagmohan (the structure adjacent to the sanctum sanctorum) of the temple,” said Orissa chief secretary Bijaya Patnaik after chairing a meeting to review the conservation works in Jagannath temple at Puri.

Patnaik said the plaster on the Jagmohan roof needed to be taken off immediately and the estimated cost for the work was escalating. The cost had reached Rs 1.76 crore.

The chief secretary said he would request the director general of ASI to expedite the repair and renovation work and ensure completion the before Naba Kalebar (change of idols) festival scheduled in 2015.

Earlier, an expert committee constituted by the ASI had suggested removal of a thick coat of plaster, which is about 45 cm deep, from the ceiling of the main shrine and subsidiary temples.

The committee had said that the thick coat of plaster was exerting extra pressure on the fabric of the temple and would not check saline-induced deterioration and leakages.

The temple was declared a centrally protected monument in 1975 and conservation was started in the same year following recommendations of the expert committee set up by ASI.

During conservation of the main temple, large blocks of distressed masonry were repaired and reset after de-plastering which otherwise would have endangered the safety of the temple structure.

It also brought to light the rich sculptural and archaeological wealth beneath the lime plaster. Conservation of Jagmohan had been proposed by the expert committee in a similar manner.

The dilapidated condition of Jagmohan had come to notice in 2008 and the ASI had been informed.

Subsequently, an expert committee inspected the structure and prepared an estimate for the required repair and renovation.

The ASI had sanctioned the estimated funds. However, repair and renovation could not start and the funds had not been spent.

Sources said the servitors of the temple had been opposing the repair of Jagmohan. But a consensus has been reached with the servitors.

However, it has been decided that the repair and conservation work would not be conducted during important festivals when large number of devotees gather at the temple.