Puri: The Puri district administration has taken initiative for comprehensive development of the Holy city to transform the abode of Lord Jagannath into world heritage site and to secure the temple within two-year timeframe.
Apart from the ongoing demolition of unsafe mutts, the administration has been trying to improve the basic facilities for pilgrims and visitors besides the residents.
To execute the project, land including private land in 75-metre radius of the Meghanad Prachir of Srimandir needs to be acquired for the security of the temple and pilgrims besides creating the heritage corridor.
The preliminary survey report accepted by the state Revenue department and subsequent government notification Tuesday reflected that in total 15acre 191 decimal of land including 2acre 64 decimal government land would be acquired for the project. It includes 399 private houses. Private land would be acquired in Baselisahi, Manikarnikasahi, Dolamandop Sahi, Kalikadevi Sahi and Chudang Sahi areas situated close to temple totaling 15.191acre the preliminary notification said.
Nabakrushna Choudhury Centre for Development Studies was entrusted to study the social impact of the land acquisition and to submit report within a month.
The survey is scheduled to begin Friday. Public hearings would be held in these areas.
Apart from this, a team of officers including five probationary IAS officers led by Additional District Magistrate BK Das would meet the individuals whose land would be acquired and hold one to one discussion with them regarding packages offered by the administration for their rehabilitation.
Rehabilitation and compensation would be given as per Land Acquisition Act 2013. The team would work to acquire land through amicable settlement.
A special land acquisition office began functioning in the Collectorate Thursday for the purpose.
Meanwhile, the Puri civic body issued notice to 167 shop owners operating from old municipal Market located alongside the Grand Road to vacate the complex by October 15 next.
Notice said since the building was unsafe it would be demolished.
A multi storied modern market complex would be constructed in its place to house the displaced businessmen in the wake of demolition of their shops.
Notice inviting tender for construction of the modern market complex would be floated by the Odisha Bridge Construction Corporation (OBCC).
Apart from this, a blueprint to construct a multi storied market complex on the old district jail ground has been worked out to accommodate the displaced businessmen. Puri District Collector Balwant Singh along with land measuring staff inspected the site Thursday.
Road and Building department of PWD has been entrusted to execute the work at the earliest.
