Even as a year has passed since demolition of mutts, monasteries and private houses surrounding 75 meter from Sri Jagannath
Temple for construction of World Heritage Corridor, the State Government has not yet received permission from the Archaeological of India (ASI).
Without consent of the ASI, what it is required under Monument Acts, the State Government has vehemently proceeded in the demolition and construction works within the 100 meter prohibited zone. The ASI clarified that the State Government has not yet responded to any of the letters issued by it since 2019. As the works undertaken by district administration near Jagannath Temple are unlawful, hence the ASI would submit a complaint at the Centre on violations of laws by the Odisha Government.
Not only the Jagannath Temple, the ongoing heritage project at Lingaraj Temple and upcoming development works near the Konark Sun Temple have not got permission from the ASI.
“The State Government has not yet taken any permission from ASI. Since 2019 onward, we have been writing to the State Government and have talked several times in the meetings.
Even the heritage projects at Konark and Lingaraj Temple have not yet taken permission,” said ASI Superintendent Arun Malik adding that department will take it to Centre for violation of Acts amended in 1958, 1959 and 2010.
Worthwhile to inform that on disobeyance of laws, Joint DG (Archaeology) Dr Sanjay Kumar Manjul and Joint DG (Monuments) TJ Alone after visiting Puri, Konark and Lingaraj on Wednesday returned to New Delhi. They will submit a fact-finding report to the DG of ASI. Sources said the DG would take it to Union Minister Prahalad Joshi for a decision on breach of ASI guidelines.
As per laws, any development work within 300 meter from the monuments remained under purview of the ASI and the Government agencies need prior permission to go ahead with its plan.