Earlier, the Jagannath Reception Centre was proposed in the prohibited area of the shrine. In the original plan, the centre was proposed over an area of 7,917 sq metre in a G+2 structure.
In presence of district Collector, the survey work for road widening started in Puri city.
The administration is eyeing to make that stretch of 1.5 kms of road wide by 40 feet. In fact, it has been alleged that the district administration has not discussed with all the stakeholders whose shops will be demolished in the project and took a unanimous decision by consulting some influential personalities.
The ambitious Heritage Corridor project, pegged at a whopping Rs 331.28 crore, will be constructed by the Tatas
Tearing into the State government, the BJP MP from Bhubaneswar Aparajita Sarangi said the government’s decision to move the reception centre beyond 100 metres suggests they had earlier violated the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains (AMASR) Act, 1958.
“The construction work is going on round the clock. It is also the wish of the Lord Jagannath that the project work should finish at the earliest,” stated the Parliamentarian.
“I am repeatedly saying it that the government has painted itself into a corner by carrying out the construction works of Srimandir Heritage Corridor project. They are well aware of the fact that the Ancient Monuments and Archeological Sites and Remains (AMASR) Act, 1958 have been violated," said MP Sarangi.
After meeting the Puri sheer, Subramanian Swamy said, “I am aware of the controversies surrounding the project. The temples were the hub of knowledge and innovation and Kings used to frequently pay visits to the places. It is everybody’s duty to protect our temples.”
“The government has finally admitted it that mistakes were committed. They are now only covering up their faults. But the damage has already been done. It has now taken the shape of a Jan Andolan (people’s movement)," said Sarangi.
"In order to avoid any harmful impact on Srimandir, the government should have carried out any construction works after consulting with architects, engineers and experts," he said.
Mishra, a leader from the ruling Biju Janata Dal in Odisha, has come under intense firing from the Opposition flanks for defending Odisha government's faulty execution of the heritage corridor project.
Every bit of Puri is part of history and there has been no missing link due to continuous cultural and societal expansion, said ASI Superintendent to OTV
In a series of tweets, Bhubaneswar MP revealed that the present Secretary of Works Department and Chairman of Odisha Bridge Construction Corporation (OBCC), which is executing the Srimandir Parikrama Project, is also the Chief Administrator of Shri Jagannath Temple Administration.
The BJP MP from Sundargarh alleged that the government officials are conducting the construction work surreptitiously and the Odisha CM might not be aware of the entire issue.
The district administration had submitted an application seeking permission for the same from the NMA under the Ancient Monument and Archeological Sites and Remains (AMASR) Act.
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