Bhaskar Parichha
In what could be termed as a major blow to the agitators raising voice against the ongoing eviction drive around Srimandir in Puri, the Supreme Court-appointed amicus curiae Ranjit Kumar has backed Odisha government’s beautification project. He has given a thumb up to demolition drive carried out by the district administration describing it as a ‘right step’ towards making the city as world’s heritage site.
“The project approved by the government is correct. It should not be halted as it is being carried out for the wellbeing of all including the servitors, priests, locals, and devotees. With proper execution of the project, the culture of Lord Jagannath will be promoted worldwide,” the amicus curiae has said.
Endorsement
This endorsement should at once put to rest the campaigning, demonstration, and protests by the dissenters. It goes unsaid that only a section of Puri’s stakeholders is opposing the drive. And most of them are the possessors of centuries-old mutts.
Needless to say, everyone from the common citizen to the servitors and those who have been evicted is going to be benefitted on a sustainable basis. The Odisha government on its part is determined in its mission to give Puri a makeover and clear the 75-meter zone in Temple’s vicinity. The Government has announced a massive special package for rehabilitation and resettlement of individuals and institutions which would be affected by the drive. The comprehensive package focuses on almost all stakeholders as it includes immediate as well as resettlement support in multiple layers – residents, shopping establishments, lodges, and vendors.
Package
The package runs into several hundred crore rupees and is billed as one of the biggest of its kind. It also takes into account the role of mutts and has drawn a primary framework to preserve “gaadis” and deities. Keeping in mind heritage value the ancient mutts enjoy, the Odisha Government has placed a separate plan for the structures which fall within the security zone of the Sri Jagannath Temple.
The special package includes land to these religious institutions apart from preservation and conservation activities. The package announced by the Chief Minister authorizes Puri Collector to decide rehabilitation and resettlement scheme for the mutts in consultation with stakeholders. The re-development plan of each mutt will indicate the usage of various components/parts/rooms and put to use accordingly. It will also focus on heritage architecture, complementary affiliations between Jagannath Temple and concerned mutt besides creating adequate parking for use. More than anything else, a committee has been formed that includes the mutt mahants which will oversee the rehabilitation and modernization of the holy shrines.
Well-timed
The financial assistance would be over and above what is laid out in the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013. The act provides that if the affected parties still do not agree with the provisions of the scheme, they can approach the Collector for reconsideration and revaluation.
Given the fact that the tourist inflow and the number of pilgrims who visit Puri throughout the year will only grow in the coming years, the makeover of the holy town is well-timed and judicious.
The writer is a senior journalist and currently associated with www.odisha.plus as a Consulting Editor