Puri: The Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) will install 23 additional close circuit television (CCTV) cameras on the Srimandir premises in an effort to improve surveillance system at the shrine.
A decision in this regard was taken at a meeting of the Shree Jagannath Temple Managing Committee here Saturday. Gajapati king Dibyasingha Dev presided over the meeting. The temple administration had earlier installed a few CCTV cameras at some strategic places to monitor the activities of servitors and devotees on Srimandir premises.
As per Saturday’s decision, some of the additional CCTV cameras will be installed at a few subsidiary temples at Srimandir.
The managing committee also approved the schedules for Snana Purnima ritual and Rath Yatra of the presiding deities. The Chhatisha Niyog, apex body of temple servitors and the sub-committee on rituals, had earlier prepared schedules for the two events.
The panel laid emphasis on the smooth organisation of the two mega rituals and sought the cooperation of servitors in this regard. “The managing committee has decided to initiate stringent action against persons causing indiscipline during the two rituals. The SJTA will ask police to take such elements into custody immediately,” said a temple official.
The committee also deliberated on the recent Supreme Court’s order that banned collection of Dakshina (donations) from devotees by the servitors on Srimandir premises. Besides, members of the panel also debated on all issues pertaining to Ratna Bhandar (temple treasury).
“The panel has authorised the SJTA chief administrator for ensuring strict implementation of the Supreme Court order. The temple administration will file an affidavit on the issue in the Apex court,” said the official. As per a decision of the managing committee, a new shelter house constructed by the SJTA will be thrown open for devotees ahead of the Rath Yatra. The temple administration had earlier set up two shelter houses to provide affordable accommodation to devotees.
“The committee deliberated on a proposal to promote 15 Grade-IV employees of the temple administration. The proposal has been sent to a committee for examination,” said the official.
SJTA chief administrator Pradipta Mohapatra, Collector Aravind Agrawal, superintendent of police Sarthak Kumar Sarangi and other members of the managing panel were present at the meeting.
PNN