Controversy erupts as Ground Penetrating Radar Survey around Jagannath Temple begins

The survey, to trace any archaeological treasure, has snowballed into a full-scale political controversy 

Months after undertaking construction around the 12th century Shree Jagannath Temple, Puri, as part of the ₹800-crore Shree Mandir Parikrama Project (SMPP), the Odisha government started the Ground Penetrating Radar Survey (GPRS) to trace any archaeological treasure beneath the soil on Saturday night.

The Odisha Bridge Construction Corporation (OBCC), the State government’s designated agency that implements SMPP had roped in the Indian Institute of Technology, Gandhinagar, which deployed GeoCarte Radar Technology Private Limited for the GPRS, according to official sources. As per guidelines, the GPRS should have been done prior to commencing of construction.

The Archeological Survey of India (ASI) had informed the Orissa High Court, which is hearing a public interest litigation petition pertaining to the controversial construction around Jagannath Temple, that, “No GPRS has been conducted to ascertain the archaeological and historical importance lying buried in the subsoil of 75m radius (construction zone) of the centrally protected monument.”

“At several locations as seen from the cuttings, it is evident that the removal of about 15 to 20 ft stratified deposit has taken place, which has caused irreparable damage to the heritage site. During the discussion, OBCC officials were clueless about the method of soil removal and cultural findings from the digging,” says ASI’s joint inspection report.

Incidentally, two half-broken lion sculpture pieces were discovered from the demolished site of Emar Mutt. Anticipating it to be ancient remnants, the ASI took the pieces into its possession.

The current GPRS has triggered a massive political controversy. Addressing a press conference at New Delhi, national spokesperson of the Bharatiya Janata Party Sambit Patra came down heavily on Puri Member of Parliament Pinaki Misra saying that his lies have been exposed.

A couple of days ago, Mr. Misra took to Twitter saying, “as documents will show, GPRS was duly done and therefore allegations about digging without doing GPRS are baseless. HC affidavit will clarify all these aspects. All that is needed is a little more patience and a little less malice.”