To Be Razed Or Not To Be Razed: Decision On Bada Akhada Mutt In Couple Of Days, Says Puri Collector

Puri: After putting demolition of Bada Akhada Mutt on hold following stiff opposition from by the mutt chief (mahant) and the several Naga sadhus (saints) from the neighbouring states, the Puri district administration on Tuesday said that a decision on this issue will be taken in two to three days.

“We had a meeting with the mutt chief and the sadhus this afternoon on demolition of the structure. The outcome of the meeting was successful. We will have another round meeting with them and take a final decision in a couple of days. Till such period, the eviction drive will be put on hold,” Puri Collector Balwant Singh told the media.

Assuring that necessary steps will be taken to safeguard the tradition of all mutts within the 75-metre radius of the Jagannath Temple, the collector said the administration will have meetings with all affected persons and institutions coming under the security zone of the 12th century shrine. “We hope that the meeting will reap positive results,” he added.

Tension ran high in and around the Bada Akhada Mutt earlier in the day after the police cordoned off the area as JCB machines were deployed. As opposition to the move swelled, the sub-collector took the mutt chief Harinarayan Das to the office of the collector for a meeting.