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Bhubaneswar, Jan 18: The Bhubaneswar Development Authority (BDA) will soon bring down illegal structures coming up within 300 metres of monuments in the city protected by the Archeological Survey of India (ASI).
BDA has also decided not to issue approvals for buildings coming up within 300 metres of such monuments.
The Khurda region has 27 monuments protected by ASI and a majority of them are facing a threat because of rampant construction activities and squatters dotting the historical sites.
The monuments that have been identified by ASI and require immediate attention because of increasing illegal activities include the Lingaraj temple with all minor temples, Bhaskareswar temple, Brahmeswar temple, Rameswar, Megheswar, Anantavasudev, Bakreswar, Vaital Deul, Mukteswar and other shrines in the compound, Parsurameswar temple, Asokan rock edict and sculpture of elephant, Chausathi Yogini temple and the Jain caves of Khandagiri and Udaygiri.
BDA and ASI have for a long time kept blaming each other for not initiating action against violators constructing structures near monuments, sources said.
ASI sends notices to the district administration and BDA about construction and encroachment, but no action is taken, said State archeology curator AK Satpathy. However, he parried questions over the delay in strengthening coordination with government officials to bring down structures.
BDA will have to prepare a comprehensive plan to identify buildings breaching norms to pull down illegal portions of multi-storied buildings, sources said.
“A lot of multi-storied buildings have come up near monuments because of rapid urbanisation. Even if BDA starts demolishing illegal buildings, people will easily get stay orders,” said a senior official.
Conservationists have expressed alarm that illegal structures have mushroomed around historical monuments in the city. The city administration has done little to curb squatter settlements and the structures now pose a threat to many of the less-known but historically significant monuments.
The district administration and BDA are likely to ask people to voluntarily demolish illegal structures constructed in breach of law or be ready to face the music.
BDA spokesperson Madhumita Rath and Orissa archeology’s deputy director Bhabani Prasad Das were not available for comment.