Puri Heritage Corridor row: ASI to inspect project, submit affidavit before HC by May 7

Amid the row over the Puri Srimandir Heritage Corridor project, a joint team of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), Odisha Bridge and Construction Corporation (OBCC) and Tata Projects will inspect the project on Sunday.

As per ASI sources, the joint team will inspect the construction activities around Srimandir under the project. The depth and height of the under-constructed project will be observed and subsequently recorded. Orissa High Court has ordered the ASI to submit an affidavit in this regard by May 7.

A couple of days earlier, the Orissa High Court had advanced the date for hearing of the case related to the heritage corridor project around the 12th century Jagannath Temple in Puri to May 9.

The hearing of the petition that sought the intervention of the court claiming that the work on the project is affecting the health of the temple was adjourned last week and was scheduled for May 16.

The High Court had once again directed the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) to undertake a joint visit along with officials of the State government to the site and file its affidavit at least two days before May 9.

Dilip Kumar Baral, a resident of Puri, had approached the High Court seeking its intervention in the construction of public amenities that would come up within 75 metre radius of the temple.