ASI Notice To 6 Persons For Illegal Construction In Restricted Areas Of Jagannath Temple In Puri

Puri: The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) on Friday issued notice to six persons for illegal construction of buildings within the prohibited areas around Jagannath Temple and Atharanala bridge in the town.

A team of ASI and Puri-Konark Development Authority (PKDA) carried out a survey in both areas and told the encroachers to vacate the illegally occupied areas and  demolish the unauthorised construction.

The ASI in its show-cause notice to the encroachers has warned that if they fail to demolish the encroached structures, they would be penalised as per the rules. They may face imprisonment for the violation of the Ancient Monument Preservation Act, it added.

Earlier, PKDA in a letter to the ASI had stated that several buildings were constructed within the prohibited area and even within the radius of 100 metre of the Jagannath Temple and Atharanala Bridge.

The notice has been issued to Harekrushna Khuntia of Ganuachaura Chhak, Amulya Pujapanda of Matimandap Sahi, Braja Jena od Nabakalebara Road, Kishore Mohapatra of Bali Sahi, Raghunath Pursty of Banua Sahi and Surya Panigrahy of Kumbharpada.