NMA Bylaws: Odisha Govt, Aparajita Sarangi In ‘Who Is Competent Authority’ Tussle

Bhubaneswar: With the politics over heritage taking the centre stage in Odisha, the BJD and the BJP on Tuesday engaged in a fresh round of duel. This time it is over the legal technicalities to prohibit and regulate developmental work around centrally-protected monuments.

A day after Bhubaneswar MP Aparajita Sarangi stepped up the heat on the state government’s plan for Ekamra Khetra, especially the National Monument Authority’s (NMA) draft bylaws for Ananta Basudeva and Bramheswara temples here, the ruling dispensation pointed out alleged technical inconsistencies in the bureaucrat-turned-politician’s press statement.

Also Read: NMA Bylaws Row: Bhubaneswar MP Aparajita Sarangi Turns Heat On Odisha Govt

Media advisor to Odisha government Manas Mangaraj said Aparajita’s statement that the Director, Culture, Odisha Government, is the notified competent authority for the heritage bylaws is not correct.

“The competent authority as notified in the bylaws is regional director of the Archaeological Survey of India,”  he said.

The Director, Culture, had not attended any meeting where these bylaws were discussed, he added.

Responding to this, the Bhubaneswar MP on Tuesday tweeted: “Am appalled at the ignorance and immaturity of state govt.”

Sharing the central government notification, she further wrote, “Stop misleading the people of Odisha.”

During her presser on Monday, Aparajita had said that construction or reconstruction or repair or renovation of buildings can be carried out only in the regulated area after making an application to the competent authority, who is Director, Culture, as notified by NMA constituted under Section 20 F of the AMASR Act.

“This happens regularly in Odisha as well as in other parts of the country. Many private parties have gone for construction in the regulated area after obtaining permission from the competent authority,” she added.

Also Read: NMA Bylaws: Bhubaneswar MP Aparajita Sarangi Shoots 5 Questions To Odisha Govt