Puri Heritage Corridor Row: Know What Exactly ASI Observed During Inspection

Bhubaneswar: The controversy over Puri Heritage Corridor Project has intensified with the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) submitting to Orissa High Court that the work was being carried out without valid permission and might have caused damage to the 12th-century Jagannath Temple there.

Stating that NOC was granted by the National Monuments Authority (NMA) on September 4, 2021, Advocate General Ashok Kumar Parija, however, said that he would like to file a specific reply to the joint inspection report since it proceeds on the basis that no such permission has been obtained from the NMA.

The HC also noted in its order that the conclusion in the joint inspection report of ASI is ‘vague and fails to be specific as to whether any actual damage has in fact been caused to any archaeological remains at the heritage site’.

While the division bench of Chief Justice S Muralidhar and Justice RK Pattanaik allowed the state government to file the reply on or before June 20 and fixed June 22 as the next date of hearing on the matter, BJP leaders Aparajita Sarangi and Sambit Patra, on the basis of the joint inspection report, termed the ongoing work illegal and also raised concern over HC suggestions on the matter.

Notably, the HC had directed ASI to undertake a joint visit along with officials of the state government to the site and file its affidavit at least two days before May 9. Following observations were made during the inspection:

1. The construction work of the Shree Mandira Parikrama Project is in progress, which falls, in parts within both the Prohibited and Regulated areas of the Centrally Protected Monument Shree Jagannath Temple, Puri.

2. During the inspection, the team visited the worksite of various structures like toilet, shelter pavilion, cloakroom, electrical room, reception centre and Shree Jagannath temple administration building.

3 It has been informed by the Managing Director of executing agency Odisha Bridge Construction Corporation (OBCC) during the discussion that, as on date there is no permission or approval of NMA/Competent Authority available for structural activities and the design of Shree Mandira Parikrama Project.

4. The Managing Director of the executing agency OBCC further informed that there are deviations in plan and elevation as well as the project design, which they have already submitted to NMA on July 15, 2021, and a presentation made before the NMA on August 17, 2021

5. In the revised proposal height of various structural units had been increased and more units have been added.

6. Foundation trench for Shree Jagannath Reception Centre (SJRC) has already been excavated in the South-East direction. However, it was informed by the DM, Puri, that the SJRC will be shifted away from the prohibited limit.

7. At several locations as seen from the cuttings/section, it is evident that the removal of about 15 to 20 ft stratified deposit has taken place, which has caused irreparable damage to the heritage site. During the discussion. OBCC officials were clueless about the method of soil removal and cultural findings from the digging.

8. It was informed during the discussion that no Heritage Impact Assessment Studies have been conducted before the commencement of the project.

9. No Ground Penetrating Radar Survey (GPRS) has been conducted to ascertain the archaeological and historical importance lying buried in the subsoil of 75-metre radius (construction zone) of Centrally Protected Monuments.

10. The Superintending Archaeologist, Bhubaneswar circle, informed that the Revised DPR of the Shree Mandira Parikrama Project was submitted by the Shree Jagannatha Temple Administration (SJTA) on April 6, 2022.

11. The DPR is silent about the re-development and renovation of mutts (which is an item in the DPR) located around the Centrally Protected Monument. During the discussion, MD, OBCC, was requested to submit the detailed condition drawings and photographs of those mutts and the proposed works of repair and renovation.

12. During the site inspection and discussion, it was informed by the executing agency OBCC that there is a provision for constructing a khandolite masonry wall around the Centrally Protected Monument at a distance of 46m, but the details are not mentioned in the DPR.

Conclusion
1. During the Joint inspection followed by onsite discussions with OBCC and SJTA officials. it is found that the ongoing construction work of the Shree Mandira Parikrama Project has no valid permission / NOC issued by the Competent Authority.

2. The drawings and structural designs included in the revised DPR are different from the one presented to NMA. Frequent changes have been noticed.

3. There is every possibility that the agency (OBCC) during the excavation/soil removal might have destroyed the archaeological remains of the heritage site.