Resentment brews as none from Odisha find place in 17 iconic sites list

Bhubaneswar: Resentment is brewing among people of Odisha over non-inclusion of monuments from the state in the list of 17 iconic sites proposed in the Union Budget 2019-20.

Expressing concern over Centre’s partiality towards Odisha, the state Tourism & Culture Minister Samir Ranjan Dash termed the decision of not placing a single monument from Odisha in the list as ‘unfortunate’.

“The list was prepared without consulting Odisha. It is unfortunate that no monuments from the state found place in the list of 17 iconic tourist sites proposed to be developed by the Centre,” Dash said adding “Even as Sun Temple Konark is one of the Seven Wonders of India, it is not in the list. Also, Puri Jagannath Temple did not find place in the Centre’s list of iconic sites.”

He said that he will raise the issue with the Centre to revise the list.

“I will write to union tourism minister to reconsider the decision by including monuments from Odisha in the list,” the minister said.

Reacting over the issue, the state unit of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) said that the party will request the Centre for the state’s interest.

“We will approach the Centre to revise the list. We hope the BJP government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi will consider our request,” said state BJP General Secretary Prithviraj Harichandan.

The ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD) strongly reacted over the issue after Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced 17 iconic sites proposed to be developed in the country, during in her maiden budget speech in Lok Sabha on July 5.