Houses In Jagannath Temple Safety Zone In Odisha’s Puri Bull-Dozed

Puri: The Puri district administration on Monday resumed demolition of private buildings coming under the ambit of 75-metre safety zone around the 12th century Sri Jagannath Temple here.

In a bid to facilitate launch of Heritage Corridor project work around Srimandir, the authorities have already evicted 95 per cent of land occupied by private individuals and institutions. The officials accompanied by a platoon police force and a JCB machine bull-dozed three private buildings at Ganduachauran Chhack under Baseli Sahi Mouza close to the Srimandir.

Currently, a part of the temple land under occupation by private individuals is entangled in various cases pending with the Odisha High Court. Several other litigants are engaged in negotiations with Revenue officials to settle cases amicably with adequate compensation. The Heritage Corridor project is expected to proceed only after the pending cases are disposed of.