n The demolition drive in Puri has stopped for the last three days. No information was available on its resumption. The next target was the 500-year-old Sikh monastery Mangu Mutt, which is in the 75-metre eviction list.
As many as three old mutts, including five dozen of shops near the Jagannath Temple, have so far been demolished out of the 18 monasteries and 200 private buildings adjoining the Badadanda (Grand Road) listed for eviction.
Though the reason behind delay in eviction of Mangu Mutt was yet to be known, it is suspected that some Gurudwaras in north India have put pressure on the administration not to dismantle the mutt.
The Mangu Mutt currently houses a shrine, a Gadi Ghar, a restaurant and some showrooms on the first floor. The entire ground floor has been rented out to private persons for running shops and offices. Since the shrine and Gadi Ghar would be protected, there is problem to dismantle the rest parts of the structure.
This Mutt dates back to the 16th century when Guru Nanak Dev came to Puri for darshan of Lords. Sikhs have two more monasteries, Bauli Mutt here near the Swargadwar beach and Gurudwara near Baliapanda.
In another development, the five IAS officers, who have been involved in the heritage project work, began their duties after paying obeisance to the deities in the Jagannath Temple.
A special chamber would be provided to 5-T Secretary VK Pandian the Collectoriate premises. The officers would work in close coordination with the district administration to make the dream project successful.