Puri dist admn undertakes measurement, to start demolition process soon

The officials decided that demolition of the Nijog office, as ordered by the High Court would be started soon to free the Lion’s Gate and Meghanad pacheri for renovation by the ASI.

Earlier in the day, a meeting was convened by the district administration for smooth functioning of the demolition exercise involving illegal structures around the 12th century shrine.

A division bench of the HC on March 21 had directed the Puri district administration to go ahead with the demolition of Pratihari Nijog building, located along the boundary wall and the Singhdwar, which was posing threat to the main structure of the temple. The bench too made it clear that all illegal structures should be demolished with in 10 ft distance of the boundary wall to retain the majesty and splendour of the shrine. It asked that no outside structures close to the wall should have height more than the boundary wall, which stands five meters tall.

The order said all illegal structures should be demolished with in 15 days from March 29 and the ASI would complete the repair works of the Lion’s Gate in three months.