Bhubaneswar: The Puri Heritage Corridor Project, which aims to transform the abode of Lord Jagannath into an international place of heritage, continues to be mired in controversy with the opposition BJP, targeting the government, for carrying out construction works close to the 12th-century shrine in alleged violation of the norms.
On Saturday, BJD MP from Puri Pinaki Mishra clarified that he did not lie in Parliament and the National Monument Authority (NMA) had issued a No Objection Certificate (NOC) to the state government for the construction of a cloakroom, mini cloakroom, shelter pavilion and toilets on September 4, within the prohibited 75-metre zone.
Many had attacked Pinaki for his statement in Lok Sabha while he countered the allegations made by fellow MP from Odisha, Aparajita Sarangi, by stressing that there was no violation in ongoing construction works for the project and four toilets are being constructed after getting a NOC from the NMA and Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) is also a part of the project.
“I could not inform the House about all the projects being taken up due to time constraints,” he said.
In a veiled attack on those criticising the project, he said some people have a ‘crab’ mentality. “They won’t do anything, neither will they let others take up any development work,” he added.
On March 31, BJP MP from Bhubaneswar Aparajita Sarangi had raised the issue of violation of the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act (AMASR Act) in the implementation of the ambitious project in the Lok Sabha and demanded that the digging work should immediately be stopped to ensure the structural safety of the shrine.
“It comes as a surprise for all Odias that the Odisha government has been carrying out massive digging around the temple without the permission of the ASI and NMA,” she said.
The MP, who earlier had a discussion on the issue with the Director-General of ASI V Vidyavathi in New Delhi, pointed out that no officer of ASI – the custodian of the temple – was made a part of the consultative committee, which was formed by the Odisha government when work on the panel began.
Seeking the intervention of the Culture Ministry into the issue, Aparajita stressed that she was not against development but all such activities need to be carried out following the law of the land.
Earlier in March, the ASI has also written to the Odisha government warning it of potential threats of the Puri Heritage Corridor project to the structural safety of the shrine after Vidyavathi visited the temple in the last week of February to monitor the ongoing project work.
“During the visit, we found discrepancies. There were giant earth-moving machines and excavators, which are being used for digging activities close to the temple. The scale at which the process is underway can pose potential threats to the temple’s structure. We have written to the Puri District Collector and the Odisha Bridge and Construction Corporation Ltd (OBCC) and have sought their replies to the purpose of the massive digging activities,” superintending archaeologist, ASI Bhubaneswar circle, Arun Malik had told the media.
Puri Collector Samarth Verma had, however, said that there was no violation of norms and all the construction will be carried out in coordination with the ASI.
Meanwhile, the government formed an eight-member House committee headed by Speaker Surjya Narayan Patro to inspect the construction works undertaken under the project and its possible impact on the Jagannath Temple after BJP and Congress members created a ruckus in the Assembly on March 29, questioning its decision to go ahead with the project work without taking permission from the ASI and NMA.
The Rs 3,200 crore project includes 22 projects to be executed in three phases within a couple of years.
