National Monuments Authority grants NOC to redevelop mutts near Puri temple

BHUBANESWAR: The National Monuments Authority (NMA) has issued no objection certificates (NOCs) to the state government for redevelopment of 15 mutts (matha) around the Jagannath Temple in Puri that were demolished as part of the Shree Jagannath Parikrama project. The NMA has also granted permission for the construction of an office of the temple and a reception centre for the devotees.
The development assumes significance as there had been protests from different quarters over the alleged illegal constructions near the temple under the Parikrama project, which were apparently posing a threat to the ancient shrine.
As per the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains (Amendment and Validation) Act, 2010, an area within 100 metres of a monument is a ‘prohibited zone’ and an area that falls within 200 meters from the boundary of the prohibited zone is a ‘regulated zone’.
“We have received the NOCs for 30 projects which include the redevelopment of 15 mutts and their 10 annex buildings, two temples, a Parishad, a reception centre and another is the temple office. Of them, 17 structures will be redeveloped in the prohibited area and 13 in regulated area,” newly appointed chief administrator of Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA), Ranjan Kumar Das, said.
The 15 centuries-old mutts were pulled down between 2019 and 2021 were razed to pave the way for the Jagannath Parikrama project. All of them were in the prohibited area of the temple.
“As per the plan, the entire structure of mutts, including their commercial units, was demolished except their small temples, matha gaadi (holy seat of the mahant) and small rooms to store articles used for worshipping the deity. We will redevelop the unaffected small temples and gaadis in the prohibited area. The displaced mutts have been given land in the regulated area. They will build rooms for their functionaries, disciples, saints and devotees from the money they received as compensation from the government on the land,” another temple official said.
The Parikrama project, which will be implemented at a cost of nearly Rs 800 crore around the temple, lays stress on development of heritage corridor components, a Shree Jagannath reception centre and amenities for devotees. The project is part of the Augmentation of Basic Amenities and Development of Heritage and Architecture scheme for developing Puri as a ‘world class heritage city’.