Dikhyaa Mohanty 
BJP leader and Bhubaneswar MP Aparajita Sarangi accused the Odisha Government of the destruction of many heritage monuments in the Ekamra Kshetra in Bhubaneswar.
Sarangi visited the Suka-Sari temple complex on the invitation of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), which under excavation. While witnessing the area she came to know that many heritage structures were demolished during the ongoing heritage corridor development. She accused the state government of senseless destruction of those heritages structures at Ekamra Kshetra.
She visited the outskirts of the Lingaraj Temple and all the excavation sites and stated that the superintendent of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) who attended her while the visit showed her some heritage temples which have been destroyed by the Odisha Government while developing the heritage corridor.
She further stated that she was informed by ASI and sevayats that around three ancient mutts involving several other structures in the heritage zone were demolished of Ekamra Kshetra. Even she said that the development work by the government was in breaking the rules which in results ruining the beauty of the heritage. She even asked the government that which heritage conservationist had even asked the Odisha government to undergo such heritage development through heritage destruction in the first place.
She appreciates the development of Ekamra Kshetra as a welcome move but the way of mindless development is injurious and she requested to have the conviction to stand what is right of such heritages.
After visiting the sites, she tweeted regarding the matter by quoting- “On the invitation of ASI, I visited the areas around Lingaraj temple, the site of current excavation. Got to know that many heritage structures were lying underneath the prohibited zone. What a treasure! Conservation of heritage and development should go together within rules.”
Prasanna Mishra, retired IAS officer supported the accusation and concern of Sarangi. He stated that he is supporting her fight to protect the invaluable monuments from destruction and her remarks regarding the demolition of heritage structure in name of beautification or heritage development are very much relevant.
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