Puri: Shankaracharya of Govardhan Mutt Swami Nischalananda Saraswati has expressed his reservations over the proposed international airport in Odisha’s Puri.
“I always support development. However, it is important to understand the nature of development properly. There is an airport in Odisha capital, which is about 50-55 km away. If an airport is established in Puri then the grazing ground will vanish. Puri will no longer remain a place of pilgrimage and will be reduced to a tourist destination,” said the Shankaracharya.
“Puri and spiritualism are synonyms. We should not divert from it,” he added.
Shankaracharya accused the government of attempting to spoil the spiritual and cultural significance of the town. “They should consult me on any development plan for Puri and prove its utility first. I will never support setting up of airport in Puri,” he said.
The Shankaracharya said that he would start creating awareness among the public if the government decides to go ahead with the plan. “They should be ready to face the consequences,” he warned.
Also Read: Puri Airport Plan May Run Into Rough Weather; Know Why
Earlier in August, the Airports Authority of India (AAI) gave the go-ahead for Shri Jagannath International Airport at Sipasarubali Mouza under Brahmagiri tehsil of the district after a feasibility study.
The proposed international airport could be ready for operations by 2022-23.
It is worthwhile to mention here that Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik in a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on January 1 this year had sought to establish an international airport named after Lord Jagannath in Puri.
Also Read: AAI Finalises Location Of Airport In Odisha’s Puri
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