Government to draw guidelines on structures around Puri temple
BHUBANESWAR: Taking a serious note on the incongruous constructions around the Jagannath temple in Puri, the State Government has initiated steps to frame a set of guidelines for construction of buildings and high rises within a certain distance from the architectural marvel.
The Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Department on Friday informed the Chief Administrator of Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA), Director of Town Planning, Vice-Chairman of Puri Konark Development Authority (PKDA), Executive Officer of Puri Municipality, planning members of PKDA, Bhubaneswar Development Authority (BDA) and Cuttack Development Authority (CDA) that a few decisions have been taken following a meeting with all stakeholders on March 15.
Seeking approval of the Government for finalisation of the Planning and Building Standards Regulations of PKDA, the HUD department has suggested that no structure should be allowed in favour of the land owner exceeding the height of Jagannath temple and there should not be any temple of height more than 20 meters within a radius of three kms from the temple.
Considering Puri as heritage city, the structures coming up on Grand Road should have building facades depicting temple architecture. The uniform colour code may be followed for building along either side of the Grand Road and from Atharanala to Grand Road.
In order to maintain prominence of Srimandir (Jagannath temple), no building exceeding the height of 12 meters should be allowed and it should be applicable for the property up to a distance of 100 meters from both the sides of the Grand Road, the department suggested.
Meanwhile, the heritage activists have demanded the Government to follow strict norms for construction activities along the Grand Road. Heritage researcher Prasanta Kumar Padhi said the PKDA should draw a legal framework and make it compulsory for all building plans in the town and it should be submitted by qualified architects and not by simple civil engineers.
Citing the example of Paris and Rome, Padhi said the old quarters of both the cities do not have incongruent high rises and aesthetically pleasing urban infrastructures there used to draw millions of tourists every year.
"Incongruent constructions would destroy the ambiance of the architectural treasurers and affect the beauty. Any intervention or tinkering with the historical fabric of Puri will bring in asymmetry and shoo away tourists," he claimed besides demanding the Government to send proposals for declaring Puri a UNESCO World Heritage Site on the lines of Bodh Gaya in Bihar.