ASI-priests face-off stalls de-plastering work

PURI: The deadlock over crucial renovation work of the 12th century Jagannath temple complex in Puri continues due to differences between the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) and the priests. The long pending de-plastering work at Jagmohan - a structure adjacent to the sanctum sanctorum of the temple - was scheduled last week, but it had to be halted due to opposition from the temple priests. Even as a meeting was scheduled on Monday, it yielded no response with the priests refusing to talk to temple chief administrator P K Mohapatra. The priest body, Chhatisha Nijog Maha Sammilani, had submitted a seven-point charter of demands to the ASI authorities saying they would allow the renovation work only when all their demands are conceded.They alleged that the ASI has been doing preservation work for the past 35 years, but has never made the details public. The priests demanded that the ASI should first make public these details, including what they had done and the amount of money  spent. The priests alleged that during the meeting Mohapatra did not accept the legal entity of Chhatisha Nijog Maha Sammilani and abruptly ended the meeting.   The chief administrator said he had informed  the petitioners about the written reply of the ASI to which they did not accept and walked out of the meeting.