Dikhyaa Mohanty 
The Centre has blocked the Odisha government’s ordinance to bring the Lingaraj temple in Bhubaneswar and eight associated temples around the 11th-century shrine under a special law. As per the Central government, the ordinance is outside the ‘legislative competence’ of the state legislature.
Earlier, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik-led’s cabinet had approved an ordinance to bring Lingaraj Temple, and its 8 other associated temples under a special law in line with that of Shree Jagannath Temple in Puri. Later, the State government had sought the Centre’s approval over the matter.
However, the Union government blocked the ordinance by citing the reason that it could lead to conflict with the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, 1958 (AMASR Act). The Odisha government has been further told that the ordinance is not within the power of the Central government.
The Centre in a letter has further claimed that the Odisha government has already violated the AMASR Act by executing construction activities around the Lingaraj temple.
