Various organisations of the Konark area submitted memorandums to Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, Union Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister M Veerappa Moily, Union Culture Minister Chandresh Kumari Katoch and Union Chemicals and Fertilisers Minister Srikant Jena highlighting their demands and grievances during these Ministers’ visit to Konark for attending the foundation-stone-laying ceremony for a project to develop tourist facilities at the Sun Temple town.
Delegations of the Konark Byabasayee Mahangh and Hastashilpa Mahasangh met Jena and demanded permanent rehabilitation of nearly 400 traders operating in and around Konark. The Union Minister assured them of positive results.
Similarly, representatives of the Konark Suraksha Samiti led by its convenor Tribikram Ramakrushna Mohapatra submitted a memorandum to Moily and Katoch demanding non-collection of entry fee for the tourists visiting Konark every Saturday.
The Samati too drew the attention of the Union Ministers to the low quality iron pipe scam worth Rs 2 crore and demanded a CBI probe into it. Sources said, the Ministers assured the organisations of prompt steps to fulfil their demands.