Puri: For the second time in less than a week, Puri Shankaracharya Swami Nischalananda Saraswati lambasted the Odisha government for destroying the very existence and ideals of a sacred land under the garb of Srimandir heritage corridor project.
Expressing deep agony over the destruction of heritage in the name of the development, he said, “It is the responsibility of the administration to ensure that a place of pilgrimage is not converted into a centre of amusement and pleasure.”
The Shankaracharya clarified that he was not against development but does not support the complete destruction of the existing pilgrim sites. “Mutts were razed for widening the road. The places of deities are slowly vanishing and the process is still underway. It will invite the ire of the deities,” he said.
He further said that the government should not sit pretty assured of the public support which can turn against it at any moment. “The people of Odisha have been voting one party to power for past many years and I would also like to tell them that the Pilgrim Town and its ideals will become extinct if this destruction continues,” he said.
“An administration can only extend cooperation in affairs related to religious places but can’t take and execute decisions. Prime Minister and Odisha Chief Minister should pay attention to the fact that Puri is being distorted in the name of development,” the seer concluded.
On May 22, the Shankaracharya had raised objections to the ongoing works around the Jagannath temple after visiting the project sites with his disciple.
Stating that governments are known to convert ‘tapobhumi’ to ‘bhogbhumi’ and tourist centres, he asserted that the project should have been started after consulting architects, engineers and experts.
He had also expressed his unhappiness for not being consulted on the project.
