Sri Jagannath Temple Administration urges Centre to withdraw draft heritage bylaws

By Express News Service
BHUBANESWAR: The Sri Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) on Sunday wrote to the Member Secretary of National Monument Authority (NMA) underneath Ministry of Culture requesting it to withdraw the draft notification of heritage bylaws framed by it for the Sri Jagannath temple, to guard the pursuits of the Holy Trinity, servitors and devotees.

The draft bylaws suggest restrictions on building actions inside 100 metres of the twelfth century shrine. Another 200 metres in all instructions can be declared regulated space the place building is just not prohibited however have to be authorised by the NMA.

Stating that Lord Jagannath is the ‘Aradhya Devata’ of Odias and hundreds of thousands of Hindus throughout India and the world, Chief Administrator of SJTA Dr Krishan Kumar wrote that numerous Sahis (habitations) that are greater than a millennium previous exist across the temple. These Sahis are principally habitations of Sevayat households who’ve been rendering service to the Lords since time immemorial. 

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“As they are likely to be severely and adversely affected by any intervention of the authorities like the draft notification, they must be consulted before any process to restrict their rights is undertaken by the NMA. This is also important as any adverse impact on sevayats have a direct bearing on continuity of Niti-Kanti (rituals) of Sri Jagannath,” the Chief Administrator wrote.

Pointing out that not too long ago the state authorities had acquired lands and properties for strengthening security and safety of the centuries-old shrine for the mission of Shree Jagannath Heritage Corridor (SJHC), he mentioned the mission will present facilities to devotees like ingesting water, bathrooms, cloak rooms and queue administration system. These properties have been acquired by state authorities via negotiations and most people have come ahead to contribute their lands and properties for the aim. “Living to realise the god through the age-old tradition of ‘Bhakta Ra Bhagawan’, these people agreed to part away with their ancestral properties for the comfort of millions of devotees who visit the temple to get a glimpse of Mahaprabhu at Srimandir. Any regulation which has the potential to restrict development of facilities and amenities of lands voluntarily contributed by the devotees of the Lord will hurt their sentiments”, Dr Krishan wrote.

The plan for SJHC after due session with numerous stakeholders is within the final stage of finalisation and the Sri Jagannath Temple Managing Committee can be assembly on February 15 to contemplate and approve the plan for implementation.

In the curiosity of the Lords, sevayats and devotees, the Chief Administrator requested the NMA to instantly withdraw the draft notification of heritage bylaws. He additional mentioned that if the NMA remains to be of the consideration that additional regulatory framework of any nature is required to guard and additional the reason for ‘Mula Peetha’ of Sri Jagannath at Puri, then it’s invited for an in depth session and dialogue with members of Sri Jagannath Temple Managing Committee earlier than any such recent try is made.

A duplicate of the letter has additionally been forwarded to the Archaeological Survey of India, Bhubaneswar Circle.

On Saturday, Union Petroleum Minister Dharmendra Pradhan had urged the Union Culture Minister Prahlad Singh Patel to rethink the heritage bylaws as they as “restrictive” in nature. The Culture Minister had assured to look into the difficulty.