Controversy Erupts as BMC Demolishes Portion of Kedar Gouri Temple’s Wall; ASI Takes Legal Action

Bhubaneswar: Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) and the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) found themselves in a dispute over the demolition of a portion of the 9th-century Kedar Gouri temple’s boundary wall. Allegedly, individuals arrived and demolished the wall without permission from ASI.

According to the security guard’s account, the individuals claimed to be acting under the corporator’s orders, citing the need to dredge a drain with a JCB machine. However, they failed to produce ASI’s permission letter when questioned by the guard.

Assistant Conservator of ASI, Sushant Gochhayat, stated that he had advised the corporator to inform ASI and await permission before proceeding. Although work initially stopped upon ASI’s intervention, it later resumed on the grounds of the minister’s directives. ASI has filed a police complaint against this unauthorized activity.

In response, the concerned corporator argued that the land belonged to BMC, suggesting they didn’t require permission for work on their own property. The corporator claimed that the wall had been constructed without BMC’s knowledge and was demolished to facilitate the ongoing construction of the Kedar Gouri tank. The corporator further mentioned that the minister had discussed the matter with ASI, who had granted permission.

As the plot is claimed by BMC, the corporator expressed intentions to file a complaint against ASI for constructing a boundary wall on BMC’s land.