The Iskcon authorities on Tuesday clarified that the proposed temple at Baliapanda was for Radha Krishna and not for lord Jagannath as alleged by political parties and reported in the media.
Iskcon project director Banamali Das told reporters here that the Iskcon would never dare to build another Jagannath temple in Puri and the allegation that a bigger Jagannath temple was being built there by the Iskcon was baseless.
However, the Puri Konark Development Authority (PKDA) has asked the Iskcon to stop the ongoing construction work of the proposed temple till the matter is finally decided. It also served a notice to the Iskcon authorities to appear before the Puri district Collector, who is also the PKDA Vice-Chairman, on Jan 29 over the issue.
Meanwhile, the PKDA also handed over the Iskcon file to the Housing and Urban Development Department.
“When Puri has such a big Jagannath temple and Badadanda (Grand Road) and Iskcon devotees are doing kirtans during Rath Yatra, why should we build another one in the same cityIJ The allegations have been levelled to get political mileage,” said Das.
He further clarified that no Jagannath idol would be placed nor Rath Yatra would be held at the proposed temple in Puri.
He said the proposed temple would be of 32-feet high and would be built on one acre of land out of the total 15-18 acres of land available.
The proposed temple has already got the PKDA’s approval and a groundbreaking ceremony for the shrine was performed on November 29 last year, he revealed.
Meanwhile, Housing and Urban Development Minister Puspendra Singh Deo said he has sought a report on the matter from the Puri district Collector, who is also the PKDA Vice-Chairman.
“I have asked the Collector for a detailed report. He will focus on under what circumstance the approval was given, what kind of temple will be built and how much land has been allotted,” said the Minister, adding that action would be initiated accordingly.
Meanwhile, Puri Collector Arvind Agarwal said, “The Iskcon in its building plan submitted to the PKDA stated that the land will be developed as institutional area. Nowhere have they mentioned that a Jagannath temple will be built. As per their proposal, a temple, a Yatri Nivas, a kitchen shed and a Prasad Bitaran centre will be built on the land.”
Though the Iskcon had made a proposal for a five-storied building, the PKDA approved a three-storied building plan, said the Collector.
In the meantime, the Jagannath Sena staged a protest against the proposed temple in front of the Shreemandir.