Puri: The Odisha Government has sanctioned Rs 40 crore for land acquisition and Rehabilitation & Resettlement (R&R) package in connection with the creation of a heritage corridor around the Shree Jagannath Temple here.

Bimalendu Ray, Joint Secretary to the Government, has written to the Chief Engineer, DPI & Roads, Nirman Soudha, Bhubaneswar in this regard.

"I am directed to inform you that you are permitted to place lumpsum fund to the tune of Rs. 40,00,00,000 (Rupees Forty Crores only), available in Land Acquisition Head of Account for the purpose of Land Acquisition/Direct purchases and R&R packages in respect of the aforesaid works and other related projects in Puri," Ray wrote in the letter, a copy of which has been forwarded to the Puri Collector.

As per the preliminary survey report, 15.19 acre including 2.64 acre government land would be acquired for the project. It includes 399 private houses. Private land would be acquired in Baseli Sahi, Manikarnika Sahi, Dolamandap Sahi, Kalika Devi Sahi and Chudanga Sahi near the temple.