Cuttack, Aug 17: An Amicus Curiae appointed by the Orissa High Court has expressed concern over cracks appearing on a beam in the Nata Mandap (dancing hall) Jagamohana (the hall facing the sanctum sanctorum) of Puri Jagannath Temple.
Many distressed locations were observed in the second pidha of Jagamohana — dislodgement of stone blocks, detached weak lime plasters and extensive corrosion of the existing wrought-iron clamps, said Amicus Curiae NK Mohanty in his report.
These distressed locations were on the eastern and south-eastern corner of Jagamohana, he added.
"There is a crack in the beam of the Nata Mandap (dancing hall). This work is very important and catastrophe may happen at any time as this subject beam is working as a cantilever from both sides,” Mohanty reported, who is a retired civil engineer.
Mohanty asked the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) to commence repair work on priority rather than submit an affidavit in a routine manner.
The Orissa High Court had appointed practising lawyer Mohanty as amicus curiae in November to oversee the conservation work being undertaken by the ASI.
