Modi assures Odisha CM on temple repair

Bhubaneswar, May 17: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday assured Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on necessary instructions for the repair of Jagamohan prayer hall structure at the Lord Jagannath temple in Puri.

In a telephonic conversation with Modi, the chief minister said the structural safety of Jagamohan, facing the sanctum sanctorum, is an important issue for all and it needs to be repaired as soon as possible.

Modi assured him that the to Archaeological Survey of India would be given necessary directions for its repair, a release from the chief minister's office said.

Patnaik had earlier written a letter to the prime minister on the issue.

A meeting in New Delhi on Monday on the issue was attended by Petroleum Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and Culture and Tourism Minister Mahesh Sharma and it was decided that a delegation led by culture secretary will visit Odisha to evaluate the structural safety of the Lord Jagannath temple in Puri, especially the safety of Jagamohan.

The team will also include ASI's director general, other senior officers and engineers of Indian Institute of Technology-Madras. It will hold discussion with all stakeholders, including the Odisha government, for the repair of Jagamohan.

IANS