In the wake of a huge uproar over the controversial bylaws prepared by the National Monuments Authority (NMA) for two ancient temples in Ekamra Kshetra here, the Central Government has reportedly ordered to withdraw the draft notification. “The bylaws on Brahmeswar and Ananta Basudeba temples will be withdrawn soon,” informed Union Minister Pratap Chandra Sarangi on Sunday. Clarifying over NMA bylaws, he said it was a draft notification, not a final order. “Like the heritage bylaws were framed for Puri Shreemandir, the NMA prepared the draft notification for the two temples in Bhubaneswar. We have discussed with Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Union Minister of State for Culture and Tourism Prahlad Singh Patel in this regard and an order has been given to the NMA for withdrawal of the draft,” Sarangi told media.
Opposing the bylaws, he said the draft notification should not have been circulated in this manner. “A draft notification was prepared seeking public opinion for enforcing construction restrictions around national monuments.
Before preparing the draft, the NMA should have consulted others. However, the Union Culture Minister has already ordered to withdraw the bylaws,” he said.Sarangi’s statement came amid wide-scale protests by servitors of the Lingaraj Temple as well as residents of Ekamra Kshetra demanding immediate withdrawal of the heritage bylaws on the two temples.
Besides, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik also urged the Centre for rollback of the bylaws for two ancient shrines.
The Samajwadi Party on Sunday held a demonstration in front of the Raj Bhavan here led by its State president Rabi Behera and submitted a memorandum to Union Culture Minister Prahallad Singh Patel through the Governor demanding immediate withdrawal of the bylaws to respect the spiritual emotion of the people of Odisha.