Govt scoffs at Puri land row, says facility to be renovated for pilgrims

Bhubaneswar: The state government on Monday denied charges of corruption involving the Bagala Dharmasala land and said the government plans to renovate it and provide a better facility for pilgrims.
“Only a piece of vacant land of the Dharmasala has been utilized for the purpose of rehabilitation and resettlement for those who have given their land for (Jagannath) temple development by following all the legal procedures,” the government said.
The government’s response came in the wake of BJP national spokesperson Sambit Patra and senior party leader Bijoy Mohapatra’s allegation of illegal sale of Dharmasala land meant to provide affordable accommodation to Jagannath devotees.
Countering the allegation, a government statement said there is some misinformation regarding compensation accorded to displaced lodge owners in the “development of heritage security corridor around the Shree Jagannath Temple in Puri.”
The government said as part of the heritage project, 27 lodges were displaced and as per the rehabilitation policy approved by it, they were given option of one-time cash settlement or land in exchange.
The policy had the approval of the state cabinet and was designed to motivate people to come forward and offer their land for the project. Till date, six of the lodge owners out of 27 exercised the option of land as resettlement assistance and were being given land, the government said.
“The resettlement plots were allotted to them on payment of benchmark value. The land in question was never sold to anyone nor connected with the project, rather allotted and transferred to the displaced lodge owners/yatri niwas/dharmasala/hotels as per the provisions of resettlement assistance,” the government statement said.
The government also clarified the project plan does not envisage demolishing Bagala Dharmasala. “In fact, the government has plans to renovate and make it a better facility for pilgrims,” the statement added.
The government said while major projects in the country are stuck because of land acquisition issues, here is a project in the heart of Puri town where people have come forward to sacrifice their business establishments, land and homes where they have been living and working for of years. “This exercise has been done in the most transparent manner, following all legal procedures,” the government said.
EoM