Puri Demolition Drive: Bulldozers Back In Action Today

Puri: After a lull of a few days, the bulldozers parked adjacent to the Puri Jagannath temple have started rolling again.

The district administration has targeted to remove 167 shops inside a market complex near the shrine during the current phase of demolition that resumed on Sunday.

The drive was carried under the watch of two platoons of police forces, who were deployed  to maintain law and order.

The administration had notified the demolition drive in a letter dated September 24.

Last week, the administration had halted the demolition of Emar Mutt, one of the oldest monasteries in Puri. The halt was forced by mutt chief Mahant Rajgopal Ramanuj Das who refused to leave his room on the half-demolished premises.

He has been protesting against the government move of clearing the area within 75 metres of the Jagannath temple walls since the demolition drive was launched on August 27.

Earlier this year, a committee headed by retired judge of Orissa High Court, BP Das recommended the removal of old structures around the temple.