By Our Correspondent
BHUBANESWAR: The affidavit of Archaeological Survey of India in the Orissa High Court over the controversial Shree Mandira Parikrama Project of the 12th century old Shree Lord Jagannath Temple in pilgrimage city of Puri, has put the Naveen Patnaik led Government in a quandary.
Former IAS officer Prasanna Mishra in a tweet said, “This admission by ASI is sufficient ground for starting a criminal case against the concerned state Govt officials. Govt cannot be the instrument for destroying the Temple. Those responsible must be prosecuted,”.
“There is every possibility that the excavation might have destroyed archaeological remains of heritage site,” ASI said to HC.
Sources said, punishment provision already there in AMASAR Act for such violations. Remains to be seen whether ASI initiating any action or trying to sweep it under the carpet or turning a blind eye as they initially did when illegal demolition construction started.
According to the provisions of Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, an area within 100 meters from a monument is a ‘prohibited’ zone. The area within 200 meters falls under the ‘regulated’ category.
In its affidavit filed before the HC, the ASI stated the competent authority has not given valid permission or No-Objection Certificate to the ongoing construction work of the Shree Mandira Parikrama Project. The affidavit filed by Dilip Kumar Khamari, Regional Director (East) of ASI mentioned that the drawings and structural designs included in the revised detailed project report (DPR) are different from the one presented to National Monuments Authority (NMA). Frequent changes have been noticed, it added.
“There is every possibility that the agency OBCC during the excavation or soil removal might have destroyed the archaeological remains of the heritage site,” the affidavit added.
The ASI has been asked to mention in its report clearly whether damages have been done to the Shree Jagannatha Temple at Puri due to the construction work.The court has fixed the date for next hearing on June 20.
