Puri: In a significant development, the Puri district administration has removed the samadhi (memorial) of late Chief Minister Biju Patnaik, father of incumbent CM Naveen Patnaik, located at Swargadwar here for development of the crematorium.
According to reports, the Biju Smurti Pitha was removed late on Wednesday night to maintain law and order.
The memorial of the former Chief Minister was evicted in presence of Puri Collector Balwant Singh and other senior district officials.
It may be noted here that the mortal remains of Biju Patnaik were consigned to the flames at Swargadwar in April 1997.
In 1999, the Puri Municipality had constructed a concrete tombstone over an acre of land at the Swargadwar.
Naveen Patnaik visits the memorial every year on occasions like Biju Babu’s birth and death anniversaries and New Year to pay floral tribute.
Earlier on November 1, an official statement issued by the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO) said quoting Patnaik saying that whatever there was in Swargadwar in the name of Biju Babu will be used for the service of the people of Odisha.
Patnaik also approved Rs 5 crore for facelift of the Swargadwar crematorium. The Phoenix Foundation would carry out the development projects.