Puri Heritage Corridor Project                                                                                                                  

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Context: The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has written to the Odisha government warning it of potential threats of the Puri Heritage Corridor project to the structural safety of the Puri Jagannath Temple.

• Under the “The Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains (AMASR) Act”, any new construction within 100 metres of a temple are prohibited.
• But for the Puri Heritage Corridor project, the National Monument Authority has issued a No Objection Certificate (NOC) to the state government for the construction of a cloakroom, a shelter pavilion, three toilets, an electrical room and a pavement within the prohibited 75-metre zone.
• ASI has not issued an NOC to the Odisha government allowing construction work within 100 meter of the shrine.

What is the Puri heritage corridor project?

• Conceived in 2016, the Puri Heritage Corridor Project was unveiled in December 2019 to transform the holy town of Puri into an international place of heritage.
• The project includes redeveloping major portions of the holy town and in the vicinity of the temple for visitors and tourists.
• Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) approved the architectural design plan of the project at an estimated cost of Rs 3,200 crore.

https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/smithsonian-museum-benin-bronzes-collection-returning-nigeria-explained-7812223/