Bhubaneswar, Odisha Chief Secretary PK Jena has ordered the Puri district administration to investigate reports of removal of various focus lights used as part of the Sri Jagannath Temple beautification project, an official said on Saturday.
The issue was raised by devotees and locals when it was found that the focus lights installed near the Shri Jagannath Temple in the pilgrimage town of Puri went missing.
The lights were removed on the evening of counting of election results and after BJD's defeat in the elections.
The Chief Secretary directed the Puri Collector to investigate the switching off of focus lights used near the 12th century temple, the official said.
Jena has also asked the Puri Collector to take appropriate action against the persons involved in switching off the lights.
Steps are also being taken to restore the lights as soon as possible until a permanent solution to the problem is found at the government level.
Puri Collector Siddharth Shankar Swain said that he has received instructions from the Chief Secretary regarding the removal of focus lights on the temple.
"We are taking appropriate steps. The event management company has removed the lights without informing the district administration," the collector said.
Local people have expressed strong displeasure over the lights installed to focus on Jagannath temple being switched off for the last 2-3 days. It was also reported that some lights were removed from the heritage corridor, plunging the entire area near the temple into darkness.
The issue was raised by devotees and locals when it was found that the focus lights installed near the Shri Jagannath Temple in the pilgrimage town of Puri went missing.
The lights were removed on the evening of counting of election results and after BJD's defeat in the elections.
The Chief Secretary directed the Puri Collector to investigate the switching off of focus lights used near the 12th century temple, the official said.
Jena has also asked the Puri Collector to take appropriate action against the persons involved in switching off the lights.
Steps are also being taken to restore the lights as soon as possible until a permanent solution to the problem is found at the government level.
Puri Collector Siddharth Shankar Swain said that he has received instructions from the Chief Secretary regarding the removal of focus lights on the temple.
"We are taking appropriate steps. The event management company has removed the lights without informing the district administration," the collector said.
Local people have expressed strong displeasure over the lights installed to focus on Jagannath temple being switched off for the last 2-3 days. It was also reported that some lights were removed from the heritage corridor, plunging the entire area near the temple into darkness.
