Bhubaneswar, February 12: Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Friday demanded that the Central Government should immediately withdraw the National Monuments Authority’s (NMA) Draft Bylaws on Ananta Basudev and Brahmeswar Temple of Ekamra Kshetra in Bhubaneswar.
Patnaik also urged all the MPs form Odisha to take this sensitive matter with the Central Government and Union Culture and Tourism Minister Prahlad Singh Patel.
“Central Govt should immediately withdraw the National Monuments Authority Draft Bylaws on Ananta Basudev & Brahmeswar Temple of #EkamraKshetra. It would have been appropriate for the Central agencies to take the State into confidence on sensitive religious issues,” tweeted Chief Minister Patnaik.
“I appeal to all the MPs from #Odisha to take up this sensitive matter with the Union Government & Prahlad Singh Patel as it involves the sentiments of lakhs of devotees of Odisha, lives and livelihood of sebayats, linked to the smooth conduct of Nitis of Lord Lingaraj,” wrote Patnaik.
The bylaws prohibit construction of any kind within 100 metre of a temple and regulate constructions on further 200 metres.
Meanwhile, the Central Government has withdrawn draft heritage bylaws for Shree Jagannath Temple at Puri.
