Decision On Reopening Odisha Temples After Assessing COVID-19 Situation: Minister

Bhubaneswar/Cuttack: In response to two PILs filed in the Orissa High Court for reopening of major temples including the Jagannath temple in Puri, the Odisha government on Monday said that a decision will be taken after assessment of the COVID-19 situation in the state.

Briefing the media in Bhubaneswar, Law minister Pratap Jena said a high-level meeting will be held very soon to review lockdown guidelines of the Centre and the situation in Odisha. A decision on whether to allow devotees entry to major temples can only be taken after that.

Earlier in the day, a devotee of Puri filed a PIL in the High Court seeking reopening of Jagannath temple for devotees. The second PIL was filed by 15 priests of Mangala temple in Kakatpur. The priests, apart from seeking the court’s intervention, have also requested the state government to provide financial assistance to them as their livelihood is at stake due to the closure of the temple amid COVID-19 pandemic.