Temples to get a makeover

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posted on 13 years ago — updated on 1 second ago

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BHUBANESWAR: The Old Town area here is dotted with temples and water bodies. However, with the passage of time, these temples have..

BHUBANESWAR: The Old Town area here is dotted with temples and water bodies. However, with the passage of time, these temples have borne the brunt of rapid urbanisation and vagaries of nature. Due to rampant encroachment and lack of upkeep, water bodies are either drying up or squeezed. To address these problems, a high-level meeting was held here on Monday. While many temples in the area are under the State Archaeology, there are some others which are looked after by the Tourism Department. Apart from these, there are around 50 temples lying orphaned as they are neither under the State Archeology nor under the Tourism Department. Tourism Minister Prafulla Samal, who presided over the meeting, directed the officials concerned to repair and renovate the temples. There are several small temple-like structures on the premises of major temples which do not house deities. With many of these structures being used for illegal activities, the Minister directed for installation of deities inside the structures. “This apart, boundary walls will be constructed around temples,” said Samal. The meeting was informed that the State Government had tied up with a private company for putting up signages in all the major temples and important routes. This apart, the Minister directed the officials concerned to install proper lighting system in all the temples in the area. Under the Mega Tourism Circuit, temples such as Lingaraj, Rajarani, Mukteswar, Rameswar, Parsurameswar, Lakshmaneswar, Bharateswar and Satrughneswar will be illuminated with dynamic lighting system at a cost of ` 3 crore. A ‘parikrama’ or ring road is being planned around the Lingaraj Temple.“The walls of various buildings and structures will be decorated with tiles of red laterite stones,” said Ekamra MLA Ashok Panda who was present. Samal said that two interpretation centres would be constructed near the Lingaraj Temple. The meeting was attended by Principal Secretary, Tourism and Culture, Ashok Tripathy, members of several temple trusts and PWD officials.