Puri: The Shree Jagannath Temple Managing Committee Thursday approved amendments to the Uniform Policy-2003 which delineates the guiding principles for sale of Srmandir land and the prices thereof.
The Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) had brought certain amendments to the Uniform Policy following a decision in this regard by the shrine managing committee November 13, 2015. The SJTA had sent the amended policy to the Law department June 30, 2016 for its approval.
The Law department deliberated on the amended policy in the presence of Revenue Minister Maheswar Mohanty and Law Minister Pratap Jena September 17, 2018. It had sent back the amended policy to the managing committee for final approval.
As per the amendments, people who have occupied Srimandir land for more than 30 years would have to pay Rs 6 lakh per acre, instead of Rs 3 lakh per acre earlier, to take the temple land in possession.
Similarly, those who have acquired Srimandir land for less than 30 years but more than 20 years would have to pay Rs 9 lakh per acre to purchase the plots, instead of Rs 4.5 lakh per acre earlier.
Besides, individuals who have occupied the temple plots for less than 20 years but more than 12 years would have to pay a hefty sum of Rs 15 lakh per acre in place of the earlier price of Rs 7.5 lakh.
“The hike in Srimandir land prices would help SJTA collect more funds,” said a temple source.
As per the amended Uniform Policy, the SJTA can provide discount while selling up to 10 decimal land to those who would buy the land for residential purposes. Similarly, people who have occupied Srimandir land prior to 1927 would get some discounts on the land price.
“However, people seeking Srimandir land for commercial purposes cannot avail any rebate. The amended Uniform Policy has authorised the SJTA to identify and auction temple land lying unused in various parts of the state,” added the source.
Lord Jagannath owns around 60,000-acre land in and outside the state. The SJTA had sold altogether 308.271 acre Srimandir land to interested parties during the past 19 years and mobilised around Rs 10 crore from the sales proceeds.
As many as 6,548 applications have been submitted to the SJTA for purchase of Srimandir land in the last few years. However, the SJTA could not sell the landed properties due to delay in getting Law department’s approval for the amended Uniform Policy.