Shivani Thakur
Published on: June 6, 2022, at 16:57 IST
The Supreme Court verdict on the ‘Heritage Corridor Project’, according to MP Aparajita Sarangi, was a win for those who worried about the safety of Jagannath Temple. According to her, the Supreme Court clearly specified the boundaries within which the state government must carry out the project.
She stated that their action on Sreemandir Banchao was clearly motivated by Lord Jagannath’s temple’s safety and security.
The order, she said, has exposed the state government’s lies that it was not breaking the (AMASR) Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act of 1958.
She added, “They have admitted before the Orissa High Court and the Supreme Court that they are now moving the reception centre beyond 100 metres of prohibited area.”
“It is also very clear after the judgment of the SC that works will have to be done in coordination with the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI). Until now, the works were going on in clear disregard of the ASI. Any violation will be treated as a violation of the AMASR Act and the judgment.”
She claimed that the state administration told the Supreme Court that it had paid compensation to the people for relinquishing land worth Rs. 700 Crore.