File picture of the skyline above Jagannath temple in Puri

Bhubaneswar, July 16: The director-general of civil aviation has turned down a proposal to make no-flying zone over the Sri Jagannath Temple in Puri.

“The ministry of civil aviation has taken a policy decision that no-flying zones are not to be created as they affect the safety and efficiency of flight operations,” A.K. Bhardwaj, director of operations in the office of director-general of civil aviation, told the authorities.

The temple administration had submitted a proposal to this effect to the director-general of civil aviation on May 27, following concerns expressed by various circles over the security of the 12th century shrine.

Local people of Puri, too, expressed their concerns after aerial videos and photographs of the temple were allegedly taken from a helicopter and posted on the Internet.

In March, two Indian Mujahideen operatives, who were arrested by Delhi police, had reportedly admitted that Puri was their target and they had visited Bhubaneswar and Puri to make an assessment.

Such developments had prompted the state government to review the security of the world-famous ancient temple. At a meeting, presided by the state’s home secretary Vipin Saxena, it was decided that a proposal would be submitted to the director-general of civil aviation for declaring the Jagannath temple premises as a “no-flying” zone.

“Accordingly, I had written to the director-general of civil aviation,” said chief administrator of the temple Arabinda Kumar Padhee.

Padhee, who also happens to be state’s tourism and culture secretary, said the state government had been informed about the director-general of civil aviation’s decision.

The temple administration is now thinking of alternatives.

“I am suggesting the government to go for an alternative technology such as installing a jammer to prevent taking photographs of the temple,” said the official.

Recently during car festival last month, Coast Guard vessels patrolled the sea along Puri coast and helicopters were pressed into service for aerial surveillance to thwart any possible terrorist attack.