Bhubaneswar MP Meets ASI DG Over Safety Of Puri Jagannath Temple; To Raise Issue In Parliament

Bhubaneswar: A day after Odisha BJP leaders raised the issue of damage to Jagannath Temple structure during the ongoing Puri Heritage Corridor Project works in the Assembly, Bhubaneswar MP Aparajita Sarangi on Wednesday said she would take up the matter in Parliament as well.

The Parliamentarian met Director General (DG) of Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) V Vidyavathi on Wednesday and briefed her about the alleged violation of the structural safety norms pertaining to the temple.

Speaking to mediapersons, she said digging and reconstruction works are in progress near the 12th-century shrine in violation of the AMASR Act of 1958. Under the Act, no construction work can be undertaken within 100 metres of any monument or temple as it is considered a prohibited area, she added.

Similarly, the area between 100 metres and 200 metres around a structure is known as the regulated area where constructions can be undertaken, but with the permission from National Monument Authority.

“The Odisha government is digging within the prohibited and regulated areas of Srimandir in gross violation of the Act. This violation has also damaged the structure,” she said.

Aparajita said that no state government has the power to violate the act which has been passed by the Parliament. “I met ASI DG Vidyavathi and discussed the prevailing situation at Puri Srimandir,” she added.

On Tuesday, the government had agreed to constitute a House committee to go into details of the project following ruckus by Opposition BJP and Congress members over the impact of the construction work on the shrine.

Parliamentary Affairs Minister Bikram Keshari Arukha had said that different House committees will be announced on March 31.

It may be mentioned here that DG, ASI, had visited the temple in February this year to review the plans under the project.

A few days after the visit, the ASI had written to the Odisha government warning of potential threats to the structural safety of the Jagannath Temple.

Superintending Archaeologist, ASI Bhubaneswar circle, Arun Malik had also mentioned the damages and said that during the visit they had found discrepancies. The use of giant earth-moving machines and excavators, for digging activities close to the temple, can pose potential threats to the temple’s structure, he had mentioned.

The custodian of Puri Jagannath temple had also written to the district collector and Odisha Bridge and Construction Corporation Ltd (OBCC), seeking their replies on the purpose of massive digging activities.