TV
The controversy surrounding the Puri 'Srimandir Parikrama Prakalpa' (Heritage Corridor Project) is showing no sign of dying down soon as fresh allegations of massive corruption in the beautification project are coming to the fore every other day.
Joining the league, Jagannath Swain Mohapatra, Chief Badagrahi of Lord Jagannath, has now alleged corruption to the tune of hundreds of crores in the use of khondalite stones for the project, which was carried out by the then BJD government.
Swain also demanded a high-level inquiry into the matter while urging the Mohan Majhi government not to spare those who have looted the assets of Mahaprabhu Jagannath.
Speaking to OTV, Mohapatra said, “I am disappointed how the khondalite stone quarry of the Mahaprabhu has been looted by the mafias in the name of Parikrama project. I request Chief Minister Mohan Majhi and Law Minister Prithiviraj Harichandan to launch a high-level investigation into the massive corruption.”
“The temple administration lost hundreds of crores of revenue due to the beautification project,” Mohapatra alleged further.
As per Mohapatra, the khondalite stone is excavated from the quarry only when the 12th-century shrine requires any repair work. However, the previous BJD government excavated 70 per cent of the quarry for the heritage corridor project, he alleged.
However, no comments from the Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA), the concerned officials or the BJD could be obtained over the allegations.
Notably, the then BJD government used khondalite stone for the construction of the heritage corridor. The stones were excavated from Lord Jagannath’s khondalite stone quarry located at Narangarh in Khordha.
