Despite repeated reminders from the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), the state authorities in Puri are continuing the construction work near Jagannath Temple.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Member of Parliament (Lok Sabha) from Bhubaneswar Aparajita Sarangi raised the issue of illegal construction at the temple on Monday (April 4).
In a social media post, she said, “Archaeological Survey of India has issued letter to the concerned authorities of Puri for stopping work in the Prohibited area (100 metres) of Jagannath Temple, Puri. But work has not stopped by the State Govt till now. Illegal this is! Isn’t it time for all of us to SAVE OUR TEMPLE?”
In a letter written to the state authorities on February 5, the ASI reminded the state authorities that Jagannath Temple in Puri is a centrally protected monument of national importance.
It further said that area up to 100 metres from the protected limits of the monument has been declared as ‘Prohibited Area’ in which any type of excavation and construction is totally prohibited and beyond it up to 200 metres, have been declared as ‘Regulated Area’ in which competent authority are authorised to give permission for any type of construction and mining activity.
The Puri unit of the ASI had informed the central team that the state authorities had sought no permission for any type of work in the Prohibited Area and Regulated Area and had not stopped the work despite repeated reminders.
In the February letter, the ASI had asked the state authorities to consider it a very important matter and stop the construction work immediately.
MP Sarangi said on Monday (April 4) that, as of now, the construction work has not stopped.
On March 29, Puri MLA Jayant Sarangi had raised the issue in the state assembly. Sarangi said that he was not against the development initiatives of the state government, but heavy construction activity near the temple endangers the safety of the temple.
Conceding to the BJP’s demand, the Odisha government constituted an eight-member committee to visit the temple and take stock of the situation.
Jagannath Sena, a voluntary organisation, working for the cause of Jagannath Temple, held a protest rally on April 1 and burnt effigies of Puri MP Pinaki Misra for giving misleading information in the Parliament about the work being done around the Jagannath temple.
“Puri MP Misra told a lie in Parliament on Thursday regarding the developmental works being undertaken by the state government near the Jagannath temple. What was the need for him to tell a lie? Anyone can see whether any digging has taken place or not near the temple. Because of the construction work, a number of cracks have developed on the edifice of the temple,” The Telegraph quoted Jagannath Sena Convener Priyadarshan Pattnaik.
