New Delhi/Bhubaneswar: The Centre has withdrawn the draft heritage bylaws notification for Jagannath Temple at Puri but not for Lingaraj and Anant Basudev temples in the Old Town area (Ekamra Kshetra) of the Odisha capital.
Speaking to the media in New Delhi, Union Culture Minister Prahlad Singh Patel on Tuesday confirmed that the notification remains in force for these temples in Bhubaneswar.
Also Read: Centre Withdraws NMA Bylaws For Puri Jagannath Temple
The bylaws notified by the National Monument Authority (NMA) restrict constructions and developmental works along a temple periphery.
This has come as a blow to the Ekamra Kshetra Heritage Project around the 11th-century shrine, which had hit a roadblock following ASI’s objection to the peripheral developmental works by Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) and Odisha Bridge Construction Corporation (OBCC) in the prohibited and regulated area.
The Union Minister also termed the digging of the Ekamra Kshetra area with JCB machines for development work as inappropriate. “We have sent our team of experts. Let the team submit the report first. Then we will take a call on Lingaraj Temple,” he added.
Also Read: Prahlad Patel Calls Digging Of Bhubaneswar Heritage Site With JCB Inappropriate
Patel further added that the Narendra Modi government is fully committed to preserving ancient temples and heritage sites.
Meanwhile, state BJP Spokesperson Golak Mohapatra accused the state government of misleading the officials of the National Monument Authority (NMA) during their visit to Puri. “The state officials should have apprised the team that this is a living monument. But, they have not done that,” he said.
