The district administration on Tuesday continued to carry out demolition of structures around the Meghanad Pacheri and other areas surrounding the Shree Jagannath temple.
Twenty–four platoons of police force, along with magistrates, were deployed to prevent any untoward incident during the drive, which passed off peacefully for the second day. Establishments and buildings barring the statue of Utkalmani Gopabandhu Das from the Lions Gate were removed on the day.
Structures including shoe-stands, shops, toilets, a police outpost and a Government information centre were razed.
The administration assured that an alternative area would be identified for the evicted establishments. The eviction drive had begun on Monday in the presence of the district collector. The State Government had proposed to implement certain recommendations of the
justice BP Das Commission of Inquiry from the first interim report which relate to the safety and improvement of the temple in the first phase.
As per the order, all structures within 75 metre of the Jagannath temple would be removed to ensure the safety and security of the 12th-century shrine, which is on the radar of terror groups.