Puri:The Puri district administration on Monday carried out the scheduled demolition drive of both private and government structures located in close proximity to Meghnad prachir (wall) of Sri Jagannath temple.
Twenty five platoons of police force including riot police and four magistrates were deployed during the demolition. Puri Superintendent of police Umashankar Dash and sub collector Bhabtaran Sahu supervised the operation which would continue till all the structures were removed.
Before the demolition began police sealed the area and power supply to the structures were disconnected.Today the cloak room, toilet complex and shoe stand were brought down.
This apart nine other structures like the information stall, power supply substation, police out post and Ramdaya parishad buildings would be demolished, official sources said.
The officials of Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) were present. The demolition was being carried out as the ASI had approached the administration to clear the structures from the temple wall on the ground of security threat.
Earlier in 2015 the administration had removed 89 structures from around the temple wall and there was no resistance from the people during the operation.
Incidentally in a major decision to ensure safety and security of 12th century Sri Jagannath temple, the Odisha cabinet on August 16 last decided to demolish all constructions around 75 metres radius of Jagannath temple.The decision was taken on the basis of the reports of the Justice B P Das Committee.