Rath Yatra 2025: Gajapati Maharaja urges government to take necessary steps for preservation of forests
He alleged that the Forest and environment department has not released the entire report on the progress of Jagannath Vana Prakalpa to SJTA.
Puri: Gajapati Maharaja Dibyasingha Deb raised an alarm over scarcity of wood for Rath Yatra 2025 in Puri district of Odisha. He urged the State government to take necessary steps at the earliest to check the wood supply.
Gajapati Maharaja of Puri emphasized that steps need to be taken to ensure wood availability for the Rath construction. Earlier, the supply of wood for the chariot construction was not an issue as there were a lot of forests.
Over the years the green cover has depleted and the availability of wood can be a major cause of concern if not checked now. He alleged that the Forest and environment department has not released the entire report on the progress of plantations under Jagannath Vana Prakalpa to SJTA.
The Jagannath Vana Prakalp introduced by the Odisha government is aimed at undertaking plantations to grow timber for chariot construction.
Traditionally, wood is the only substance that can be used for chariot construction. Hence, the government needs to take necessary measures so that there would be no shortage of wood.
This year Netra Utsav and Naba Jaubana Darshan falls on the same day and he has urged the administration for a disciplined conduct of rituals. He also said that after the Rath Yatra, the renovation and beautification of inner and posterior part of Gundicha temple is likely to be undertaken. It is worth mentioning that, a complete ban on mobile phones has been imposed on the Rath this time.
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