Puri: Suar servitors of Srimandir, who are responsible for the cooking and selling of Mahaprasad, have threatened non-cooperation with the Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) to protest against the construction of a permanent ramp for differently-abled devotees through the Anand Bazar on the shrine premises.
The servitors have also threatened to approach the judiciary over the issue. They submitted a memorandum in this regard to the SJTA chief administrator PK Mohapatra through post Thursday.
The servitors have submitted a memorandum in this regard to Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) chief PK Mohapatra.
In the memorandum, the servitors welcomed the SJTA decision to construct the permanent ramp but urged the temple administration to keep the Anand bazar, the designated place for sale and purchase of Mahaprasad, free from such construction.
The SJTA had earlier constructed a temporary ramp through the North Gate of Srimandir.
The temple administration decided to construct a permanent ramp thorough Anand bazar after the temporary facility was declared unsafe for users.
The Suar servitors have claimed that construction of a permanent ramp through Anand bazar would create unnecessary congestion for workers who carry Mahaprasad from the temple to the selling place of the temple delicacies. Moreover, devotees would face problems to purchase the temple delicacies due to heavy rush at Anand bazar, they said in the memorandum.
The servitors had urged the SJTA to construct the ramp through the West Gate of the shrine. They had written to the temple administration in December last and expressed their displeasure over the ramp construction.
Srimandir Managing Committee member Anant Tiadi has also opposed construction of ramp through Anand Bazar. He had urged the SJTA to find an alternate route for the facility.
However, the temple administration did not take any step to address the grievances of Suar servitors.
“The SJTA has been constructing the ramp through Anand Bazar despite our stiff opposition to the project. We would face severe problem to store Mahaprasad once the construction work is over. We are urging the temple administration to consider our grievances and act accordingly. Otherwise, we would be forced to non-cooperate with the SJTA and move court on the issue,” said a Suar servitor.
When contacted, SJTA administrator (rituals) Bishwajit Biswal said the shrine authorities are constructing ramp as per the Supreme Court direction. “The shrine’s technical team has finalised a route for the facility,” he added.