Bhubaneswar: Union Minister of Tourism and Culture G Kishan Reddy has said basic civic amenities can be constructed in restricted areas around Jagannath Temple in Odisha’s Puri town.
The minister stated this in a written reply to the questions raised by Odisha’s Bhubaneswar MP Aparajita Sarangi in the Lok Sabha during zero hour.
Reddy, in his reply, said the structures for providing basic facilities including water supply, toilets, power supply and drainage system can be constructed in the restricted areas around Jagannath Temple for convenience of the devotees coming to the Pilgrim Town.
Aparajita has been vehemently opposing the Srimandir Parikrama (heritage corridor) project on the ground that the state government has not obtained requisite permission from Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) and National Monument Authority (NMA) to carry out construction works within 100-metre of restricted area around the temple.
After the Supreme Court (SC) rejected two petitions challenging the project on June 3, the BJP leader had said the NMA has not given any NOC and the letter conveying “no objection” was a “conditional one”. But the state government has not fulfilled those conditions.
On the ASI’s submission before the SC that it has no objection to construction being carried out strictly in conformity with the provisions of law, she said, “It is not very clear whether the works are being carried out strictly in conformity with the provisions of law. The requirement of having a Heritage Impact Assessment, prior survey through ground penetrating radar, etc., have not been done and it is public knowledge. Constructions were carried out without prior approval of the ASI.”
Also Read: SC Order On Srimandir Parikrama: Aparajita Continues Her Attack On Pinaki Misra; Know Why
New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Monday (Nov 25) dismissed petitions challenging the inclusion of…
Bhubaneswar: The State Transport Authority (STA) of Odisha has seized the scooter of jatra actress…
Bareilly: Blind trust on technology can be detrimental too. That’s exactly what happened to three…
New Delhi: Proceedings in both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha for the ongoing Winter Session…
Cuttack: After rescuing a minor Bangladeshi girl, Madhupatna Police in Odisha’s Cuttack city have arrested…
Baripada: Ten days after being put in a soft enclosure inside Similipal Tiger Reserve (STR)…
Nuapada: Inspector In-Charge (IIC) of Jonk police station in Odisha’s Nuapada district, Gurudev Karmi, has…
Mumbai: The first day of the IPL mega player auction at Jeddah threw up several…