Bhubaneswar: After Congress Legislature Party Leader Narasingha Mishra raised concern about the "huge" development near the Shree Jagannath Temple, the debate over the Puri Heritage Corridor project heated up even further.

Mishra voiced concern about the project just a day after BJP Bhubaneswar MP Aparajita Sarangi questioned the state government's honesty in its efforts to make Puri an international heritage site.  After personally visiting the shrine and examining the works, the CLP leader, who is a member of the Odisha Assembly Committee constituted to inspect the construction in the restricted zone of the 12th-century national monument, said this on Thursday. He added that there is complete uncertainty since a BJP MP claims that the Archaeological Survey of India has denied permission for the work, while an RTI activist claims that the state has not received the necessary approval from the ASI.

The state government, on the other hand, maintained that no rules were broken throughout the project's implementation. In a public announcement, Chief Secretary SC Mohapatra stated that the work is being done in "coordination" with the ASI.  "I found foundation had been laid for major development," Mishra added, despite the state government's claims that it was building bathrooms, cloakrooms, and other devotee amenities. Though I am not a specialist, it looks that foundation construction is underway to raise a five to ten-story building near the temple border wall, which is well within the restricted zone and requires ASI approval..." According to Mishra, no work can be done without the ASI's consent.

The Congress leader further stated that the House Committee constituted to inspect the corridor project had yet to visit the site. "I overheard the Speaker mention that the House Committee was debating whether it could inspect the subject that is currently before the high Court." "As far as I'm aware, the House Committee has no such restriction," he said.

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