TV
Though the tenure of old the management committee of Puri Srimandir has ended for the last two months, the new committee is yet to be formed. As a result, many important decisions like disciplined darshan arrangements for the devotees, and repair and inventory works of Ratna Bhandar have been pending.
The Holy Odia month of ‘Kartika’ has ended. However, the ramp arrangement for darshan at Srimandir is yet to be executed. Decisions on servitors’ welfare measures, the establishment of ‘Gurukula’ and Uniform Land Policy are pending.
Though the tenure of the old management committee ended on September 3, around 10 sub-committees under it have also become defunct as the new committee is yet to be formed. As per experts, the reason behind the delay in the above decisions could be attributed to the delay in the formation of the new managing committee which has affected various developmental activities of Srimandir.
“The new government has been formed in Odisha for around five and a half months. However, the new management committee is yet to be formed which is affecting the developmental activities of Srimandir. The new committee should have members who have experience in various activities of Srimandir. The old members of the committee should not be repeated,” said Jagannath Swain Mohapatra, the Chief Badagrahi of Lord Jagannath.
“As per my experience, those who don’t have any experience with Srimandir should not be there on the committee. The government should select worthy people in the committee,” said Ramakrushna Das Maharaj, former member of the committee.
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The last management committee was formed in 2021 and its tenure ended on September 3, 2024. As per the norms, a new management committee should be formed every three years. Apart from the representatives of five Nijogas, the government elects five eminent persons from different fields in the committee. While Gajapati Maharaj is the permanent chairman of the committee, the Chief Secretary and Chief Administrator of SJTA remain as the executive chairpersons of the committee. Puri Collector and SP also remain as the permanent members of the committee.
However, Chhamu Khuntia Nijoga has moved the High Court by alleging favouritism by the previous government for selecting some particular persons from different Nijogas in the committee.
In response to the delay in the formation of the new Committee, Puri Collector Siddharth Shankar Swain said, “As the matter is under the jurisdiction of the Court, the State government will form the new committee at the right time after reviewing the situation.”
“The blueprint for the new committee is being prepared. We are hopeful that after the approval of the State government, the new committee will be formed soon,” said SJTA Chief Administrator Arabinda Padhee.
“It’s a huge responsibility of the government to form the new committee. Discussions are going on about the new members of the committee and it will be formed soon,” said Law Minister Prithiviraj Harichandan.
