Bhubaneswar: The heritage well adjacent to the historic Ananta Vasudeva temple in Bhubaneswar has been filled in, sparking controversy and concern from heritage advocates and local stakeholders. Located within a protected zone around the 13th-century temple, the well was once used for preparing temple prasad (sacred offerings) before piped water became accessible. Concrete platforms are now being constructed on the site, which was originally intended to relocate the temple’s kitchen to reduce fire risks posed by its current location.
The kitchen, known as the Roshaghara, has long been flagged by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) and the National Monuments Authority (NMA) as a threat to the temple. In 2022, ASI Director General V. Vidyavathi raised concerns about potential fire and smoke damage to the monument, which sits a mere 2.5 meters from the cooking area. The kitchen’s proximity to the temple also endangers two rare inscriptions carved into the temple walls. Both the ASI and NMA had called for moving the kitchen outside the restricted area as part of the Ekamra Kshetra Heritage Development Project.
Despite these recommendations, authorities have now converted the designated kitchen relocation site into a pathway and garden, with no clear plans for the proposed kitchen relocation. Conservation organization Intach has been advocating for the kitchen’s relocation for over a decade, citing fire incidents in the facility, which is currently built with asbestos and contains 20 wood-fired stoves. The kitchen is essential to the livelihood of approximately 700 members of the Nijog community, who depend on prasad preparation and sales in the nearby Ananda Bazar.
Anil Dhir, Convener of Intach’s Bhubaneswar Chapter, has voiced concerns that current ASI regulations prohibit large-scale prasad cooking so close to heritage structures. Dhir recalls a 2018 fire that severely damaged both the kitchen and parts of the temple. Plans for a new kitchen were discussed in 2013, yet recent inquiries indicate a lack of definitive action. “The records of this plot, retrieved from the R.I. office, clearly confirm the well’s existence. Filling it up is a violation and a punishable offense,” Dhir asserted. He added that the use of heavy machinery near the temple contravenes the Amasar Act, which protects heritage structures from potentially damaging activities.
Local sevayat Prafulla Swain, a key advocate against previous demolitions, met with Sri Lingaraj Temple Trust Board Officer Rudra Narayan Mohanty, who stated that he was unaware of the ongoing work but would investigate for possible violations.
Retired IPS officer and Intach State Convener A.B. Tripathy has criticized the filling of the well, urging a renewed commitment to heritage preservation by constructing a kitchen outside the complex. He also called for public access to a Ground Penetration Report by IIT Gandhinagar, arguing that it could reveal further archaeological significance and cautioning against further construction within prohibited zones.
As concerns mount over the handling of heritage sites, Dhir expressed frustration with what he describes as an “unplanned spree of construction and demolition.” He warned that “the new administration seems to be repeating the mistakes of its predecessor by disregarding preservation protocols and excluding local stakeholders from key decisions.”