Puri: The dream to have a shelter with improved living standards is no less than a mirage for the landless servitors of Srimandir and their families as they are yet to get the houses even though more than three years have passed.
Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik in January 2015 had announced a slew of welfare schemes, including affordable housing for a few Srimandir servitors who belonged to low income group category.
Accordingly, Patnaik laid the foundation stone for the project on a five-acre land in the Holy City July 4, 2015, a few days before the Nabakalebara rituals. An estimated Rs 2 crore was also facilitated to Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) for smooth execution of the project, said a senior SJTA official, requesting anonymity.
According to the official, soon after the foundation stone laying ceremony, the project was stalled due to several procedural wrangles with one being the Puri-Konark Development Authority’s (PKDA) dilly-dallying in facilitating the project approval.
“The venture could hardly make any progress after its estimation and design was submitted to the PKDA for the agency’s approval,” the official added.
Sources said the majestic Gopal Tirtha Mutt, touted as one of the oldest mutts in the Holy City and a part of the historical Govardhan Peeth, was demolished to pave way for the proposed venture. Even, the temple administration demolished the mutt without requisite consent from the Endowment Commissioner, sources added.
Meanwhile, rumours are also doing the rounds that the Govardhan Peeth Shankaracharya had also opposed the mutt’s demolition as well as any new construction on the area.
Amid delays in the project approval on one hand and reported opposition from the Puri sheer on the other, the project is yet to hit the ground.
About the mega venture, a senior SJTA official said, “Plans were afoot for building five complexes to provide dwellings to at least 30 families in the first phase. The facility would have been extended to other servitors later.”
When asked, SJTA administrator (rituals) Pradip Das said the project got stalled due to some procedural wrangles. “The temple administration is committed towards the welfare of the servitors. Hence, we’ll leave no stone unturned to expedite the project,” Das added.
Meanwhile, clearing the air over the tardy pace of the project, another senior SJTA official said that the project would commence once the PKDA approves the building plan.