Puri: The administration Wednesday began the demolition of Emar Mutt belonging to Ramanuj sect, one of the oldest and the richest mutts of Puri, on the second day of the demolition operation amid tight security.
The buildings of the mutt were declared unsafe a decade ago. Hundreds of police personnel along with magistrates were deployed at the site and sealed the roads leading to demolition site.
Vehicular traffic including two wheelers was prohibited to pass through the area.
There was no resistance either from Mahantas or from local people and the demolition was carried out smoothly.
The demolition began as per the decision of the state government to clear all structures on 75 metre radius of the Meghanad Pacheri (boundary wall) around the 12th century Srimandir for safety and security of the temple as well as the devotees. The government has also announced Rs 500-crore project to make the Holy City a world-class heritage city.
The Emar Mutt, apart from its heritage status, also houses the oldest public library which has some rare palm leaf manuscripts and books on various subjects and in different languages like Bengali, Sanskrit and Odia. It was established in 1921 by the then Mahant of the mutt.
Puri District Collector Balwant Singh told media persons Wednesday that the books and all furniture were carefully shifted to a government building of the Collector’s office for their safe keeping.
Emar Mutt is located in front of the main gate of the Srimandir spread on about five acres of land. In 2011, while renovation work was in progress by the state culture department, workers detected a secret room in the mutt wherein huge silver ingots were stashed away from public view.
Later, the administration in presence of Magistrate and police made inventory of the treasure and everybody was surprised to know that 522 pieces of silver ingots weighed 18 tonnes, worth around Rs 100 crore were found in the secret room of the mutt which has no doors.
The silver ingots were sealed by the Magistrate and stored in a round the clock guarded special strong room in the reserve police head quarters.
Most of the “khaja” businessmen were operating from shops of the mutt. The businessmen shifted their stocks and furniture after the authorities issued a notice Sunday night to shift their assets from the mutt. Demolition began Wednesday afternoon after shifting of the library.
Though the Languli Mutt was demolished Tuesday and debris was cleared on the same day. It would take a couple of days to clear the structures from the Emar Mutt campus, an official of the demolition squad said.
