In view of recent reports of terrorist threat to the Sri Jagannath Temple and the ensuing Car festival at Puri, the State Government on Tuesday made identity proof mandatory for all the visitors staying in hotels, guest houses or lodgings.
The decision was taken at a meeting held between Tourism and Culture Secretary Arabinda Padhee, who is also the Chief Administrator of the Sri Jagannath Temple Administration and Chief Secretary Jugal Kishore Mohapatra at the State Secretariat here.
After the meeting, Padhee said that instructions had been issued to the Tourism Director to undertake regular check- up through the Tourist Officers at hotels and guest houses on the occupancy and identity proof of the visitors during their stay.
He said in case of any hotels and guest houses violate the mandatory norms, they would be put on notice and in extreme cases, their approval may be suspended and cancelled.
Stating that hotel owners and staff would be sensitised on such security related matters as well as on safe and honourable tourism, Dr Padhy said that experts from the local India Tourism Office, IITTM and IHM etc would be involved in the process. He said that mandatory identity (ID) proof for tourists and foreign visitors would also be followed in other places of the State as well.
Referring to the reported threat by the Indian Mujahidin on Jagannath Temple and the Ratha Yatra on June 29 next, the Chief Jagannath Temple administrator said identity cards would also be issued to the Sevayats (servitors) of the lords before the ensuing Rath Yatra. Similarly, the Sri Jagannath Temple would be made free from all encroachments and buildings nearby the surrounding walls would also be removed as part of security measure, Padhee said.
He further informed that the administration would take all possible steps to secure the 12th century shrine and counter any possible threat.