By Bizodisha Bureau, Bhubaneswar, March 29, 2022: The Odisha government on Tuesday said in the Assembly that it is ready to constitute a House committee for inspection of the heritage corridor project around Puri Jagannath temple.

“All committees of the Assembly will be constituted on March 31. The government is ready to form a House committee in this regard at that time,” Parliamentary Affairs Minister Bikram Keshari Arukh told the Assembly.

Arukh said works on the heritage corridor project around the shrine is underway and claimed that there is no threat of damage to Srimandir from the ongoing project.

BJP Puri MLA Jayant Sarangi, during the zero hour of the Assembly, claimed that cracks were seen in the Jagannath temple after the ongoing heritage corridor works triggered vibration.

Sarangi said no one is against development, but the government will be held responsible if any damage is caused to the shrine in the name of development.

“An expert committee should be constituted to inspect the ongoing works around Srimandir. If the committee finds it ok, the government is then free to go ahead with the project,” Sarangi said.

“The ASI and NMA have not given approval for any permanent project around Srimandir. The committee can find out the truth. But why the government is apprehensive of forming the committee? Lord Jagannath will never forgive the government if any damage is inflicted to the shrine,” he added.

Congress legislative party leader Narasingha Mishra also raised the issue in the Assembly and demanded that a committee be formed and sent to Puri to inspect the project.

“The permission of ASI is needed which has not been taken. Experts say these works in the name of development will pose serious threats to Srimandir. The silence of the Speaker on the issue is unfortunate. Development must not lead to destructions,” Mishra said.

Opposition Chief Whip Mohan Majhi said, “If the Speaker does not form an all-party committee for inspection of the ongoing works and not give any ruling over the issue, we will raise the issue in the well of the House.”

Earlier in a written statement, Law Minister Pratap Jena said, “As per Section 19 of the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, 1958 permission is required from the Central Government for construction of any building and excavation etc. within the protected area as defined under section 20-A of the said Act that is a distance of 100 meters in all directions of the protected monument. The State Government through the Competent Authentic, if required, will obtain the required permission prior to any construction within the prohibited area of the protected Monuments/ temples.”