Cuttack: The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has designed a "supporting system" for the roof ceiling above the Garuda stambha inside the natmandap (dancing hall) of the Puri Jagannath temple, where structural cracks in the stone beam had been detected.

In an affidavit, ASI (Bhubaneswar circle) superintending archaeologist H.A. Naik informed Orissa High Court on Wednesday that it had designed "the support system with mild steel props" to erect it adjacent to the two pillars of the hall near the Garuda stambha.

Nayak said the support system had been planned for the safety of the pilgrims while ensuring that no further damage was caused to the structure because of the de-plastering undertaken a fortnight ago.

"The structure supporting system will be erected in position immediately on getting free working space by the temple administration," he said.

According to the affidavit, the ASI had requested the temple administration to allow it to erect the support system since January 8.

Initially, a repair scheme was taken up between December 13 and 16 to remove the cracked plaster and re-plaster it by using the appropriate material and complete it within a few days.

However, after removal of the cracked plaster, some major structural cracks appeared on the stone beam below the plaster. No work had been taken up after it as the temple administration had pleaded that space would not be available inside the hall till the first week of January because of excessive number of pilgrims.

When the matter came up on Wednesday, the administration sought 15 days time to allow free working space citing pilgrims' rush.

The high court, however, granted a maximum five days time.

"The division bench of Chief Justice Vineet Saran and Justice B.R. Sarangi directed the administration to make certain free working area is available for the ASI to erect the support system on or before January 22," central government counsel Chandrakanta Pradhan said on Thursday.

"The bench posted the matter to January 31 for further monitoring of the work, along with the progress report in the form of an affidavit by the ASI," Pradhan said.

It has been monitoring the repair work after amicus curiae N.K. Mohanty submitted a report on November 8 pointing out that condition of the corridor's roof ceiling near Jay Vijay dwar and that above the stambha needed urgent attention.