BHUBANESWAR: BJP’s Bhubaneswar MP Aparajita Sarangi on Saturday said that the Supreme Court ruling on the heritage corridor project was a victory for those concerned with the safety of Jagannath Temple. She said that the SC clearly defined the boundary/limits within which the state government will have to undertake the project.
She said their movement on Sreemandir Banchao was clearly based on safety and security of Lord Jagannath’s temple. Apart from tourist amenities like toilets, cloak room, electricity lines and drainage, nothing will be done in the prohibited area, she said analysing the SC order.
She said the order has clearly exposed the lies of the state government that it was not violating the AMASR (Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains) Act, 1958. “They have admitted before the Orissa high court and the Supreme Court that they are now moving the reception centre beyond 100 metres of prohibited area,” she added.
“It is also very clear after the judgment of the SC that works will have to be done in coordination with the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI). Until now, the works were going on in clear disregard of the ASI. Any violation will be treated as a violation of the AMASR Act and the judgment,” said the MP. She said the state government has told the apex court that it paid compensation of Rs 700 crore to the people for vacating land. As it is public money, Sarangi said, the names of beneficiaries and the amount received by them should be put in the public domain.
