CDA resumes temple demolition

CUTTACK: After a brief lull, Cuttack Development Authority (CDA) on Wednesday resumed temple demolition drive in the city and razed Subhadra Khetra Temple at Sector 9 of Markat Nagar here. Four platoons of police force were deployed around the temple to ensure smooth and hassle-free demolition.
The temple, spread over three acre, was constructed in 1994."The huge religious structure was constructed illegally by encroaching CDA land. There were temples of Laxmi, Hanuman and Shiva on the premises. These structures were demolished," said secretary of CDA Saroj Sethi.
As the temple was quite old and a big one, CDA officials apprehended trouble during demolition, but it went off peacefully.
The authority had identified 35 unauthorized temples on its land at Markat Nagar and Mahanadi Vihar and subsequently launched the drive on August 22. On the first day, four temples were bulldozed. The demolition is being carried out in accordance with an Orissa high court order.
In 2011, the court had ordered demolition of unauthorized religious structures, blocking traffic and drainage facilities in the city. "The demolition drive is being suspended for few days due to some official work. We will resume it next week," said a CDA official.