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The Puri-Konark Development Authority (PKDA) has issued a 'stop work' order to the ISKCON in the wake of apprehensions about the organisation constructing a second Jagannath Temple at Puri within the compound of an institutional complex.
The International Society For Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) was told to refrain from taking up any construction activities on the Baliapanda land until the matter is resolved, PKDA Vice-Chairman Aravind Agarwal, who is also the District Collector of Puri, said.
ISKCON, however, asserted they did not have any plans to build a second Jagannath temple and termed the apprehensions as baseless.
Agarwal said that the administration has initiated proceedings against ISKCON under section 17 of the PKDA notification issued on May 6, 2013.
"The proceeding is because the ISKCON in its proposal said it was developing an institutional complex, but their brochure carried a photograph of Lord Jagannth," he said.
In response to the charges, ISKCON spokesman Banamali Das said, "The allegation of building a second Jagannath Temple at Puri is baseless and politically motivated."
"We do not have any such proposal. ISKCON would never dare build another Jagannath temple in the pilgrim city," he said.
The authorities also directed the ISKCON officials to appear before it on January 29 in connection with the case.
The state government has ordered a detailed probe into the land procurement and the plan of the temple. The district collector will submit a report to the Urban Development Department for further action.
Communicating ISKCON proposal to the PKDA, Agarwal in his preliminary report said a temple, tourist guest house, kitchen shed and food distribution centre will be built on the land.
Though they (ISKCON) had proposed to construct a five-
storey building, the PKDA approved only a three-storey building plan in the permissible area as per the CRZ regulations, another PKDA official said, adding that in compliance with rules and regulations, the approval was given by a planning member.
Environmental clearance and other No Objection Certificates (NoCs) were given to the project following PKDA's approval, he said.
Senior BJP leader Bijay Mohapatra, who raised the issue first, asked the state government to withdraw permission given by PKDA to ISKCON.
