Two teams formed for inventory of valuables in Puri Jagannath Temple's Ratna Bhandar

Bhubaneswar: Ahead of the inventory of valuables in the Ratna Bhandar of Puri Jagannath Temple, the shrine administration on Tuesday formed two teams for the exercise. The date for the inventory is yet to be finalised, though Orissa high court on Jan 27 directed the govt to complete the process within three months.Chief administrator of Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA), Arabinda Kumar Padhee, said the two teams — supervisory and handling — both headed by him, have been constituted as per a standard operating procedure (SOP) approved by the govt.The supervisory team includes the chief administrator, two members from the previously formed high-level committee (HLC) on Ratna Bhandar and one member of the Ratna Bhandar sub-committee. The handling team comprises the chief administrator, HLC chairman, a servitor from the temple managing committee, four other servitors, six empanelled goldsmiths of a PSU bank, two gemologists, two officials from Reserve Bank of India and two photographers.While the supervisory team will monitor the process, the handling team will audit the gems and jewellery. State govt last week allocated Rs 5 crore in the budget for the exercise.Padhee clarified that only 3 members from the supervisory team and 10 from the handling team will be allowed inside the Ratna Bhandar at a time. “Each participant will be required to sign a confidentiality agreement, ensuring secrecy about the findings,” Padhee said.

The temple administration said that only the govt can make the inventory results public. “A schedule for the exercise may be finalised during the meeting of the temple managing committee next week. Once completed, the list will be submitted to the committee and a certified copy forwarded to the govt,” Padhee said.He said that the findings will be cross-verified with the last audited report prepared in 1978. The process will also include detailed photography and creation of a digital catalogue for preservation and future reference. Padhee reiterated that no valuation of the Ratna Bhandar’s articles will be undertaken.