Orissa HC Issues Notice To Govt & ASI On Heritage Corridor Around Jagannath Temple In Puri

Cuttack: The Orissa High Court has issued a notice to the state government and ASI, seeking replies on the status of the heritage corridor around Jagannath Temple in Puri.

Hearing a petition, filed by Dilip Baral, a resident of Puri, on Friday, the High Court directed the government and Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) to clarify on three aspects of the project.

The court has sought to know about the structures that are under construction around Jagannath temple under the project. Besides, the government and ASI have been directed to submit whether those structures pose any threat to the temple or not.

The third aspect about which the High Court has sought replies is whether necessary permission has been taken by the government to carry out the construction works.

The court has told both government and ASI to file their replies by April 17 and set the next date of hearing of the case on April 21.

It may be noted that there has been a strong opposition to the project from various quarters including local people, advocates, servitors of the temple and opposition BJP.

While the ruling BJD has maintained that requisite permission has been taken from ASI, the BJP has challenged it by stating that no written permission has been issued by the archaeological authority.