Odisha to seek Centre’s approval for chariot construction

Bhubaneswar: Keeping in view the volatility of Covid-19 situation in the country, the state government has decided to seek approval from the Centre to start construction of chariots for the Rath Yatra scheduled in Puri on June 23.
On Monday, the Jagannath temple managing committee wrote to the state government and sought permission for the chariot work even though the government is yet to decide whether to host the world famous Rath Yatra this time or not.
“Since the national lockdown is in force, we have requested our state chief secretary to take up the issue with the ministry of home affairs,” a senior officer of law department said.
The issue snowballed into a political free-for-all with the opposition BJP and Congress demanding an early decision on Rath Yatra and chariot-making. “Rath Yatra is a state subject and the Centre has a very limited role to play in it. The state government has been talking to central officers over phone and holding video conference on Covid-19 issues almost every day. Why has the state government not raised the issue so far with central officers,” asked senior BJP leader Bijoy Mohapatra.
The Congress flayed the state government for dilly-dallying on chariot making. “First the government had said it would take a decision on Rath Yatra after end of lockdown on May 3. When the lockdown was extended till May 17, the temple committee on Monday unanimously resolved to start chariot work and sought the state government’s approval. Now, the government is silent. It should immediately take a call,” Congress state president Niranjan Patnaik said. Niranjan said the government should also clarify whether Rath Yatra can be observed at other places in the state.
Temple servitors too expressed displeasure over the government’s tactic. “We are already late. Chariot work should have started on April 26 Akshaya Tritiya, but was suspended in view of lockdown restrictions. When the temple managing committee has already decided to start the chariot work, what is the government waiting for? The committee clearly said it would obey government’s instructions, including cancellation of Rath Yatra (if situation does not improve in days to come),” senior servitor Binayak Dasmohapatra said.
“We do not see any hope of start of chariot work. Unless a decision is taken at the earliest, we may not be able to complete the mammoth construction of the three chariots in time. The delay will affect the quality of work,” Bijay Maharana, chief carpenter of Lord Jagannath’s Nandighosh chariot.