Puri to appear like a Dulhan enticing the tourist fold
, grandson of a grand old patriarch Godabarish Misra, a pioneer of Odia renaissance in language and literature, founder of the Utkal University, who has immensely contributed to the quintessential cultural mosaic of Odisha, currently represents the Puri constituency in Lok Sabha as a BJD member. Born to late Binapani Misra, an accomplished singer, and seasoned parliamentarian and former Governor of Assam late Lokanath Misra, Pinaki was educated at the St. Stephens College, New Delhi. After having his LL.B degree from the Delhi University, he joined the bar of the Supreme Court and subsequently came out in flying colours in many landmark cases. A Senior Advocate in the apex court, he is acclaimed as an attorney among the elite circles. He opened his innings to Parliament in 1996 and subsequently was re-elected in 2009. He made a hat trick being elected in 2014 and won for a fourth time in 2019. He has hundred irons in the fire and all of them are hot indeed!
In an interview to The Pioneer, Pinaki spoke to Sugyan Choudhury on many issues concerning Puri and Odisha.
As the Supreme Court refused to entertain petitions against the Shreemandir Heritage Oroject, CM Patnaik twitted that not a leaf moves without the wish of Lord Jagannath. Reportedly, you played a role as the chief architect to set all controversies at rest. How do you feel after the judgement?
I feel legally vindicated. Our CM was absolutely right when he maintained that not a leaf moves without the wish of Lord Jagannath. I too strongly believe that the Lord’s wish shall prevail supreme. It was done in accordance with law though some people either out of their ignorance of the AMSAR Act or out their sheer malice had tried to put a spoke into the wheel. The Supreme Court has completely vindicated the stand of the State Government to go ahead with the project.
Some people holding the image of the Lord protested while some members raised the issue in Parliament to corner the State Government and your party. How do you react?
I think some of them are well-known for enacting Jatra politics. They have their unending bags of tricks to release such types of gimmicks to hoodwink the public opinion. Therefore, part of it was Jatra politics; part of it was out of the ignorance of law; and the last part because of their pure malice and selfishness to try and carve out a space for them in the State BJP. Let me make it clear that the BJP central leadership has taken an enlightened view in all such matters. We have seen in the Prime Minister’s own constituency at Varanasi, where after a massive demolition, he is keen on a beautification drive, which is being appreciated by a lot of people there. The BJP central leadership is well-aware about the need of beautification of the site at Puri. But it is only a section of the State BJP leadership who sought to carve out some place for themselves in local politics resorted to what they did. Naveenbabu walks away with a great deal of credit for the beautification work. The Lord gave them a fitting answer by the judgement of the apex court. I think these men had a myopic vision on their part.
Odisha is losing over Rs 30,000 crore from the Center every year on coal royalty. Being the leader of the BJD Parliamentary Party and a member of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Finance, what is your concern for the same?
We are getting promises from the Central Government that necessary revision will be done. We are sure this will happen sooner or later. We are chasing this matter with the Centre.
Odisha’s annual average GDP is over 8%, which is higher than the national average. But the Opposition maintains it as a cock and bull story. What’s your response?
You see it is the job of the Opposition to criticise and contradict. They are happy in doing their own job. I don’t want to share more on it except that these figures are in the public domain confirmed by World Bank and ADB. You must have seen an article of a noted economist of the country, Arvind Panagariya on July 5, 2022 captioned as ‘Lessons from Naveen Babu’, which makes it clear that voters have trusted him due to change in their rapid economic fortunes. When world economic bodies and celebrated economists are endorsing this view with important publications, the Opposition’s stand is entirely meaningless.
Do you have plans for development of tourism in Puri?
Naveenbabu has a huge roadmap for the beautification of Puri temple precincts as well as the beach sites. My job is only to see that there are no huddles on the way. Puri as a place of worship and a temple of Lord Jagannath is very close to his heart. He has decided to go on a spree for the beautification of this age-old city with an international airport, invitation to world-class hotel chains to come to the Samuka beach, cruise tourism and a lot of such things. I believe Puri is going to be metamorphosed during Naveenbabu’s tenure.
A large portion of Puri like Sipasarubali is under encroachments. Is it not an impediment to development of tourism?
It is an old festering issue which is now dealt with vigour. We need people’s cooperation and the encroachment shall be freed as the Government is giving beautiful R&R packages and people at Puri have begun to appreciate Naveenbabu’s vision.
Less than one percent of tourists visiting the country come to Puri and Odisha. What could be the reason behind this?
It is simply due to lack of adequate infrastructures, which are gradually in the offing now. This is because we have to entirely depend upon the railway connectivity, air connectivity, road connectivity and highway linkages and these are all Central subjects, for which we have kept our demand on the Centre. I am sure Puri shall be immeasurably developed in near future appearing like a Dulhan enticing the tourist fold and shall contribute huge foreign exchange.
When is Puri international airport going to be operational?
A lot of formalities are to be completed. Survey has been done; reports are in; the State Government is chasing the matter and it will be completed at the appropriate time.