At least 139 kg gold jewellery, precious stones and 258 kg silver utensils are in the Ratna Bhandar (treasure room) of Lord Jagannath Temple, Puri, Odisha Law Minister Pratap Jena said.
Replying to a question of Dillip Ray (BJP) in the Assembly on Thursday, the Law Minister said the inventory was as per a list prepared by the Temple Management Committee during May and July 1978.
The Minister said during the period, 258 kg silver utensils and other precious items were also listed.
Jena said the list did not include 4 gold ornaments and some silver articles as it could not be weighed due to various reasons.
The Minister informed that no evaluation of the listed jewellery and gem stones is available.
It is pertinent to note that last month there was a controversy over unlocking of the Ratna Bhandar which had to be done as per court orders for maintenance and repair work by the Archaeological Survey of India.
The outer room of the Ratna Bhandar was opened and cracks, seepage were noticed. But the select team of individuals, including ASI officers, select priests, representative of Maharaja of Puri, temple administrator did not enter the second chamber as they reportedly did not have the keys. Speculations were that they did not enter the second room as they noticed from the grill that the chests in the second room were not locked.
Since 1978 there is no record, inventory or audit done of the jewellery and precious stones.