Odia Sentiment Hurt as Center Puts Barriers In Development of Puri Into World Heritage City

Bhubaneswar: The naysayers are out again. This time they have chosen to interfere with the sentiments of millions of Odias. In the Guise of an obsolete law, the National Monuments Authority has issued bylaws prohibiting any developmental work surrounding 300 meters of the Sri Jagannath Temple and Lingaraj Temple. This is a clear cut attempt to interfere in the ambitious developmental objectives of the State Government.

Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has decided to develop Puri into a World Class Heritage City and transform it into one of the best religious places of the country which is progressing at a fast pace.

Those who are envious to see the developmental works have come up with a lame excuse.
The bylaws issued by the NMA seem to be an attempt to muzzle the works taken up by the Odisha Government and are against the betterment of the people of Puri.

A number of questions also rise with the issue in this regard. The publication of the draft bylaws on January 18th was not publicized and it came into light a month later. Why his secrecy? The timing of the bylaws clearly show that they are politically motivated and guided by the oppositions which do not want the developmental works to progress. Where was the National Monuments Authority when the whole process to transform the area began? Where were its officers? The ASI which is nothing but a sitting duck in Odisha and has not cared to contribute in the development of monumental sites in the State should have come forward in the development.

Due to its uniqueness only the Puri Shree Jagannath Temple has its own Act and all the rules and regulations are special. The Center with this Bylaws is trying to interfere in the issue. With this Bylaw, the Culture Ministry has not only betrayed the state but also the people of Puri and the whole Hindu sentiment. The clubbing of the Shree Jagannath Temple with insignificant monuments of North India is a clear signal that the Culture Ministry and NMA have no understanding of the significance of the Hindu Temple.

It will also put hurdles in the development of the Temple town. The Sebayatas, the people who have come forward by giving up their land in the periphery and the thousands of small businesses who were to get benefits of the development work are feeling let down by the new bylaws issued by the NMA.

One of the most curious aspect in this whole issue is the National Monuments Authority has neither consulted with the state government or the Shree Jagannath Tempe Administration. How a Central Agency act on its own ? A bigger question arises on whose behest all these planned decisions were taken?