Puri Heritage Corridor row: Srimandir is safe, says Gajapati Dibyasingha Deb

Trying to douse the emotional blaze raging against the Srimandir Parikrama Project, the King of Puri, Gajapati Divyasingha Deb on Monday said that the shrine is completely safe and the project does not possess any threat for the temple.

While addressing the reporters after chairing a managing committee meeting, the Gajapati said, “The project is vital to put this shrine in the international arena. Apart from that, the devotees will benefit from this project. So, if there is some grievances, it should be resolved through dialogue. The works done for Lord Jagannath should not be stopped because of protests.”

On the other hand, the ‘Srimandir Banchao Andolan Committee’ which has sought permission for a rally from Saradha Bali to the Srimandir on April 27, is still awaiting a reply from the district administration.

Jivan Sahu, a member of the Committee said, “Our concern is the safety of the Srimandir. The Heritage Corridor project is being undertaken without approval of the ASI and we oppose it.”

Though it is still not clear, whether the administration will grant the permission or not, the situation has got muddier after another faction of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), including some servitors and intellectuals met the district Collector on Monday and submitted a memorandum urging the officer to complete the Parikrama Project within the stipulated time period, before 2024.

"We should not do politics over Lord Jagannath. If there are concerns over the safety of Srimandir due to digging, it should be addressed in a proper manner and forum by the experts,” said BJP leader Krushna Jagdev.

BJP MLA from Puri, Jayant Sarangi has also voted in favour of the project appealing the protesters to refrain from politicising the issue.

It is pertinent to mention here that Jagannath devotees across the world and other intellectuals, including leaders of the BJP, have been protesting construction near the Jagannath temple under the project allaying fears of damage to the Temple structure.

Bhubaneswar MP Aparajita Sarangi, who has been vocal about her concerns regarding the alleged violation of rules during the construction under the project, is likely to join the rally likely to be organised by the Srimandir Banchao Andolan Committee on April 27.