Jagatsinghpur: The Forest Department demolished a nearly three-foot-high half-bust statue of veteran politician and former minister Damodar Rout near Siali Beach in Odisha’s Jagatsinghpur district, just two days before its scheduled inauguration on April 26.
The action, carried out on grounds of violating forest laws and Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) norms, has triggered sharp protests from local residents, committee members, and leaders across party lines.
The statue was installed by the Siali Balijatra Committee on forest land, approximately 200 metres from the shoreline, well within the prohibited CRZ area.
Officials stated that the committee had been explicitly warned last week not to proceed with construction, yet the pedestal and statue were erected on Thursday night. Kujang forest range officer Sanjay Pradhan clarified that the structure violated the Forest Act, Environment Protection Act, and CRZ provisions aimed at safeguarding coastal habitats. He noted that the department had taken similar action two years earlier by demolishing a sea erosion-affected guest house in the same village.
Siali Balijatra Committee president and chairman Nirakar Swain expressed deep disappointment, stating that no objections were raised during the construction phase, making the abrupt demolition surprising and hurtful to public sentiments. The committee had already issued invitations for the unveiling, which was to feature dignitaries including Jagatsinghpur MP Bibhu Prasad Tarai, Pravat Biswal, Sura Routray, Lalatendu Mohapatra, and Sambit Routray, son of the late leader.
A commemorative plaque listing these names was also removed during the demolition.
Swain and local residents urged officials to relocate the statue rather than destroy it, but their appeals were ignored.
The incident quickly took on a political dimension. Sambit Routray described the demolition as an “aggressive act” by the administration, alleging that no opportunity was provided for relocation. MP Bibhu Prasad Tarai, a BJP leader, called the episode unfortunate. He questioned the classification of the land as forest area, pointing out that other structures, including market complexes, government scheme buildings, and even a statue of Biju Patnaik, exist in the vicinity.
Tarai indicated he would raise the matter with Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi.
Rout, who passed away on March 22, 2024, was a prominent figure in Odisha politics. A protégé of Biju Patnaik, he served as a seven-time MLA from constituencies including Ersama and Paradip, and held ministerial positions under chief ministers Biju Patnaik and Naveen Patnaik.
