Heritage corridor work near Jagannatha Temple being undertaken in coordination with ASI: Odisha Chief Secy

Puri: During a visit to the Shri Jagannatha Temple in Puri today, Chief Secretary Suresh Chandra Mahapatra asserted the heritage corridor project work has been carried out in coordination with the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI).

Mahapatra said as part of the heritage corridor project, work on setting up of amenities for lakhs of devotees visiting the pilgrim city is going on.

He further informed the work will be done at 5% to 10% of the total area while the rest will used for ceremonial procession of deities or ‘parikrama’.

On being asked about any possible threat to the shrine due to the heritage corridor project work, the Chief Secretary said, “I don’t think there is any structural threat to the temple because of this.”

Earlier in the day, Aparajita Sarangi, the Member of Parliament from Bhubaneswar Lok Sabha constituency, in a tweet asked, “Isn’t it time for all of us to save our temple?” while citing a letter written by the Conservation Assistant of ASI Puri Sub-Circle to the Public Works Department.

Written on February 5, 2022, the Conservation Assistant of ASI Puri Sub-Circle’s letter asked the Public Works Department to stop the construction work near the Shri Jagannatha Temple in Puri which falls under the ‘prohibited area’.

As per the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains (Amendment and Validation) Act 2010, area up to 100 meters from the protected limits of the monument has been declared as ‘prohibited area’ in which any type of excavation and construction is totally prohibited.

The area after 100 metres of the monuments and up to 200 meters of the monuments has been declared as regulated areas and the competent authority is authorized to give permission for construction and mining activities.

The letter also mentioned that the work being carried out by the Public Works Department near the Shri Jagannatha Temple is violation of the AMASAR Act.