Srimandir land settlement soon, says Odisha law minister

Odisha's law minister, Prithviraj Harichandan, announced that the state is preparing to settle land ownership disputes related to the Puri Jagannath temple within the next one-and-a-half months. This initiative stems from a review meeting focused on amendments to the Srimandir Land Settlement Policy. Currently, approximately 55,000 acres of land belonging to Lord Jagannath are encroached upon, leading to significant revenue loss for the temple. The policy aims to evict encroachers and, in cases of long-term occupation by servitors (temple staff), settle the land in their favor through a revised Uniform Land Settlement Policy.

According to Harichandan, this approach will benefit both the occupants and increase the temple’s revenue. Proposals were discussed to maximize the value of these properties by removing encroachments and allotting land at the highest possible value.

Additionally, the meeting addressed the need to amend the Shri Jagannath Temple Act of 1955, which is nearly 70 years old, to ensure its relevance in modern times. The Law Commission has suggested changes, and a final decision is expected soon.

(Source：The Times Of India)