Latest news with #Lingaraj
United News of India
4 days ago
- General
- United News of India
INTACH voices concern over low-level flights near heritage sites from BPIA
Bhubaneswar, June 19 (UNI) The Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH) has raised serious concerns over low-altitude flights taking off from the main runway of Biju Patnaik International Airport (BPIA), Bhubaneswar. Anil Dhir, convenor of the INTACH Bhubaneswar Chapter, has written to the Director of BPIA urging amendments to the existing Standard Instrument Departure (SID) chart for the airport's main runway. Dhir has also brought the matter to the attention of the Superintendent Archaeologist of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), Bhubaneswar Circle, as well as the Union Culture Secretary. In his letter, Dhir pointed out that many aircraft departing from runway 14/32 at BPIA make a sharp ascending right turn almost immediately after takeoff — sometimes even before the landing gear is fully retracted. This maneuver brings the aircraft alarmingly close to the ancient Lingaraj temple. Based on a two-month study conducted in the Old Town area of Bhubaneswar, where the temple is located, Dhir observed that several aircraft come dangerously close to the temple structure. The temple's main spire stands 180 feet (55 meters) tall, while the aircraft at the point of the turn are often at altitudes of just 1,000 to 1,200 feet. A former trainee pilot, Dhir emphasized that although the current departure pattern adheres to the SID outlined by Bhubaneswar Air Traffic Control, it is avoidable. He suggested that delaying the right turn by merely 10 seconds would ensure aircraft fly well clear of the heritage structure. He warned that low-level flights over such ancient monuments, especially during takeoff when engines operate at full thrust, pose significant risks, including physical damage, intense noise pollution, and structural vibrations that may harm the temple. "The structural integrity of the Lingaraj temple is already in a fragile state," Dhir stated. "Continued exposure to such vibrations could exacerbate existing weaknesses, potentially resulting in cracks, loosening of stone joints, and even partial or complete collapse." Dhir has submitted photographs and video evidence, including recordings taken from within aircraft as a passenger. He identified flights operated by Air India, IndiGo, and Akasa as those flying closest to the temple. In contrast, several other aircraft departing from the same runway maintain a straight climb, avoiding the heritage zone altogether. Flying over ASI-protected monuments is generally prohibited within designated restricted zones. Even drones or other aerial devices are banned near such sites under current regulations. Dhir reminded that the ASI bears the responsibility of protecting these historical structures and that any aerial activity posing potential harm is in violation of these protective mandates. Citing the recent Air India Dreamliner crash at Ahmedabad Airport, Dhir, a heritage expert, urged authorities to treat this issue with utmost seriousness. UNI DP PRS
New Indian Express
5 days ago
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Odisha government forms panel to finalise RoR for Lingaraj Temple
BHUBANESWAR: In a bid to resolve the frequent strife between servitor groups of Lingaraj Temple over ownership of rituals, the state government has constituted a two-member committee to review and finalise the Record of Rights (RoR) of the 11th century shrine. The committee, headed by retired judge of Orissa High Court Durga Prasanna Choudhury with Sanskrit professor Prafulla Kumar Mishra as the member, met for the first time on Tuesday. Choudhury said the committee will interact with all the servitors under various nijogs of the shrine, check their legal documents of rights over rituals and also study the existing scriptures and the precedence as far as rituals are concerned. It will submit a report on reorganisation and preparation of a final RoR to the state government. The Law department had in May this year directed formation of such a committee in wake of frequent disruptions in rituals of Lord Lingaraj due to disputes between servitor groups. In January this year, Lord Lingaraj had remained hungry for over 24 hours after a dispute erupted between the Mahasuara and Badu servitors over the conduct of the 'Ghruta Kamala Lagi' ritual on Makar Sankranti.
The Hindu
05-06-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Odisha police turn Medha Patkar, activists away from Rayagada where resistance against bauxite mining simmering
Several activists led by Medha Patkar were stopped by the Odisha Police and turned away after they arrived in Rayagada district to address a public meeting on World Environment Day, early Thursday (June 5, 2025). District authorities cited potential law and order concerns, stating that the activists' presence could inflame tensions in the region, where local tribals are opposing bauxite mining in the Sijimali Reserve. 'As soon as we got off the train in the early hours of Thursday, a large contingent of police personnel stopped us and said we were not allowed to leave the railway station. We are not criminals. We had come to Rayagada to speak about the importance of protecting the environment,' said Medha Patkar over phone from Rayagada. Within hours, fellow activists Lingaraj and Narendra Mohanty were forced to leave the district. Protest against bauxite mining of Vedanta A public meeting had been planned under the banner of Maa Maati Maali Surakshya Manch, Kashipur at Sunger Hatapada, where hundreds of tribals were expected to gather to hear the activists. Sunger Hatapada is located just a few kilometres from the Sijimali Bauxite Deposit, where the Vedanta Group has proposed mining 9 million tonnes of ore annually over an area of 1,549 hectares. Vedanta, one of India's largest aluminium producers, has operated its alumina refinery in Lanjigarh, Kalahandi district, without a captive bauxite mine since 2007. The company has been seeking a steady supply of raw material, making Sijimali a key target. Similar resistance had earlier derailed a mining project in the Niyamgiri hills, where the Dongria Kondh, a particularly vulnerable tribal group, successfully opposed plans to mine bauxite. The Odisha Mining Corporation, a state-run PSU, was to supply the ore to Vedanta. In Rayagada, tensions have been simmering around the Sijimali deposit for the past couple of years. Tribals allege that the district police, under pressure from the company, have been using force to suppress the people's movement against mining. An order signed by the Rayagada District Collector has barred 24 activists from entering the district for two months starting June 4. They have also been prohibited from participating in any protests or sit-ins. The Eastern Ghats hill ranges that cut across Kalahandi, Rayagada, and Koraput districts are rich in bauxite. Apart from Vedanta, private players such as the Adani Group and the Aditya Birla Group are either exploring or have already established infrastructure to mine the mineral. The National Aluminium Company Limited (NALCO), a Navaratna public sector unit, has a strong presence in Koraput district, where it is already extracting bauxite from the Panchpatmali reserve and is preparing to mine the Pottangi reserve. 'Why is the present Odisha government afraid of environmentalists and nature lovers visiting their beautiful State at the invitation of Adivasis—the true guardians of nature?' asked Ms. Patkar. 'How can we, as citizens of India, be stopped from marking a day dedicated to pledging our commitment to protect the Earth, its green cover, its farms and forests, and honouring those who have preserved them for generations?,' asked Ms. Patkar.
New Indian Express
24-05-2025
- General
- New Indian Express
Foreign national enters Lingaraj temple, rituals disrupted
Chief of the Brahmana Nijog Biranchi Narayan Pati said a purification ritual was subsequently performed in the temple and the 'abhada' prepared for Lord Lingaraj worth thousands of rupees was dumped in 'Amunia' pool. The temple servitors, however, questioned the security frisking at the entrance of the temple. 'This is not the first time that foreign nationals have entered the temple. It is surprising that temple officials and police are not able to recognise them during their entry. This results in disruption of rituals and also, wastage of a lot of abhada that is cooked. It is the Suar Mahasuar Nijog that bears the cost of this wastage,' Pati said. Sources in the temple office said from his appearance, they could not recognise him as a foreign national. Meanwhile, the schedule for Sital Sasthi celebration at Lingaraj temple was finalised at a preparatory meeting on Friday. While the divine wedding will take place on May 30 at Kedar Gauri temple, the deities will return to Lingaraj temple the next day. It was decided that the wedding procession will begin from Lingaraj temple at 10.40 pm on May 30 and the wedding will be over by 3 am. The divine couple will return to Lingaraj temple the next day at 9.30 pm.
Hans India
11-05-2025
- Politics
- Hans India
Parties stand united with armed forces
Bhubaneswar: The BJP, BJD and Congress organised different programmes here on Friday to express their solidarity with the country's armed forces and boost their BJP and BJD organised mass lamp-lighting programmes in front of Ram Mandir and Shri Lingaraj temple here, respectively, on Friday evening, to pray for the well-being of Indian soldiers. The BJP women's wing leaders and members lit earthen lamps in front of the Ram temple to show support for the Indian armed forcesamid heightened military conflict between India and Pakistan. Similarly, the BJD leaders and activists lit lamps before the Lingaraj temple here and prayed for the victory of Indian forces in the military conflict against Pakistan, said Bhubaneswar Mayor Sulochana Das. 'Our forces are fighting a battle against terrorism, and we all are standing united with them. Today, we lit lamps before Lord Lingaraj with a prayer to give all strength to our brave soldiers to eliminate all terrorists,' said BJD MLA Goutam Budha Das.
