Puri (SunstarTV Bureau): Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik visited Shree Jagannath Temple in Puri on Monday and slammed over the National Monuments Authority (NMA), over their bylaws framed for Puri Srimandir.
By Patnaik’s given statement to media above Centre’s ‘Heritage Bye-Laws’ stated, “The Central Government should remove these new bye-laws. Nobody can stop the work of Lord Jagannath.”
Reportedly, the draft notification issued by the National Monuments Authority (NMA) on ‘Heritage Bye-Laws’ meant for the Shree Jagannath Temple prohibits constructions within 100 metres area around the 12th-century shrine.
“I have spoken to the NMA. The Centre should remove the new bylaws and nobody can stop the good work for the Lord .” said Chief Minister.
Notably, scores of developmental projects and beautification of Srimandir’s periphery are underway and a majority of them have been completed under the initiatives of the Chief Minister as he has all prepared to make the pilgrim city a world-class heritage site.
The Chief Minister had visited the temple for the first time after the temple reopened for darshan of the deities since the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic. He landed at Talabania helipad in Puri in a special chopper and headed for the Jagannath Temple amid tight security. The servitors greeted Patnaik with customary ‘Khandua’.
Along with him 5T Secretary VK Pandian and other officials as Puri Collector Samarth Verma entered into the temple.
