Court orders filing of cases against Odisha collector, Tata Projects and OBCC for ‘illegal’ construction around Jagannath Temple

BJP national spokesperson Sambit Patra lambasts Odisha govt for construction without ASI nod

By Our Correspondent

Bhubaneswar, May 12: Amid massive hue and cry over the construction activities around Odisha’s Jagannath temple at Puri under the Srimandir Parikrama project, the local Sub-Divisional Judicial Magistrate (SDJM) court in the pilgrim town has ordered filing of case against Puri District Collector, Odisha Bridge and Construction Corporation (OBCC) and Tata Projects.

Hearing a petition filed by an advocate over the ongoing project on Tuesday, the court asked the Singhadwar Police to register the case. Earlier, Singhadwar police had reportedly turned down the complaint of the petitioner.

Recently, the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) had told the High Court of Orissa that the deep excavation and construction works undertaken by the Odisha government most probably have damaged the archaeological remains around the 12th century shrine.

The Odisha government came under fire following the filing of the ASI affidavit in the HC. The Opposition also wasted no time to target the government for allegedly carrying out the project without obtaining necessary permission from the ASI.

Launching a scathing attack, Bhubaneswar MP Aparajita Sarangi on Tuesday had said the wrongdoings of the state government were now crystal clear.

In another development, BJP national spokesperson Sambit Patra on Wednesday came down heavily on the ruling BJD government in Odisha over the Heritage Corridor project around Jagannath temple, Puri.

Speaking to the media after paying obeisance to the Holy Trinity at the pilgrim town, the BJP leader said, “I pray before Lord Jagannath to give some good sense to the Odisha government and  also to MP Pinaki Mishra. This government has destroyed our heritage.”

 “The Archeological Survey of India’s report is a shocker. I am not going to stay silent anymore. I want to ask the state government why it is violating the rules laid by the competent authorities,” Patra questioned.

 “The Advocate General (AG) in the Orissa HC said we will shift the reception zone to the regulated zone from the prohibited zone. This means the government was setting up the reception zone in the prohibited area. The illegal construction in the prohibited zone is concerning,” the BJP leader added.

Reacting to the allegations, BJD spokesperson Pratap Deb said Patra’s is doing drama to stay in the limelight.

“Whatever Sambit Patra is saying is a drama. He is doing all this to be in the limelight. Did he ever speak about Lord Jagannath or visit Puri before being chosen as a candidate?” Deb asked.