OdishaPlus Bureau
The Odisha government will spend Rs 3208 crores over a period of three years to implement several projects under “Augmentation of Basic Amenities and Development of Heritage and Architecture” (ABADHA) in Puri.
Briefing the media after the State Cabinet meeting which approved this along with ten other proposals, Chief Secretary Asit Tripathy said the projects to be developed under this scheme include Development of Heritage Security Zone, Shree Setu Project, Musa River Revival Plan, Jagannath Ballav Pilgrim Centre (JBPC), Housing Projects, MLCPs, Puri Lake Development Project, Raghunandan Library, Acharya Harihar Square Redevelopment Project, Atharanala Heritage Project, Matha Development Initiative, Development of Heritage Lakes.
Keeping in view the growing number of pilgrims visiting Puri, the Government has planned to provide better and affordable facilities to pilgrims and tourists; he said adding that the Temple as an important shrine needs to be protected from all possible threats to ensure safety and security of pilgrims.
For the above, the Augmentation of Basic Amenities and Development of Heritage and Architecture (ABADHA) scheme was launched by the Government of Odisha in 2017-18. As per the decision of the Government, few projects such as Construction of Rest Room for Habishiali, Improvement of roads at different locations in Puri, Stadium at Puri were announced and are being implemented, he pointed out. After t the devastation caused by the cyclone Fani, Chief Minister visited Puri and announced that Puri would be developed into world-class Heritage City.
In the meantime, the Government of Odisha approved for execution of projects arising out of recommendations of the Commission of Inquiry consisting of Justice Bimal Prasad Das, retired judge of Odisha High Court constituted to enquire into and submit a report for better administration and governance of Sri Jagannath Temple and its endowments. The State government has planned to take up all these activities under the ABADHA scheme, the CS said.
The Cabinet also decided to exclude Shankaracharya’s Gobardhan Math at Puri from the purview of Odisha Hindu Religious Endowments Act, 1951. The CS said, “It is decided to amend the Odisha Hindu Religious Endowments Act, 1951 by excluding the Math from the purview of the said Act with a sole object of vesting the management related affairs of the said Math to Jagadguru Shankaracharya. The proposed amendment shall better upkeep the religious pre-eminence and importance of the holy institution.”