Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government has sanctioned Rs 42.51 crore for renovation, restoration and reconstruction of 26 ancient and historic shrines in Ganjam district under its temple renovation initiative.
The shrines are located in 12 of the 13 assembly constituencies of Ganjam, the home turf of Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik. These include the 300-year-old Marda Jagannath Temple in Polasara block, known as Sharan Shrikshetra, where the deities of the Puri Jagannath temple were kept from 1733 to 1735; around 500-year-old Siddhi Vinayak Temple at Panchama; Siddha Bhairabi Temple near Golanthara, where the former PM PV Narsimha Rao had performed rituals; Budhist site Budhakhol in Buguda block; Mahuri Kalua Temple near Berhampur; Bateswara Temple in Ganjam town and Jagannath and Narayani temples in Khallikote.
The Works Department will execute the project and tenders for execution of the projects are under process, Assistant Chief Engineer (Works) Durga Charan Behera told PTI.
He added that amenities for pilgrims such as rest sheds and toilets will be built and drinking water and illumination will be provided, besides the repair and renovation of the temple structures.
Earlier, the government had sanctioned Rs 48.97 crore for the district for giving a facelift to 997 village temples cross the district. The panchayats have also been asked to develop temple infrastructure under the ‘Ama Odisha Nabin Odisha’ scheme, for which Rs 50 lakh was sanctioned for each panchayat.
Sources added the famed Maa Budhi Thakurani temple in Berhampur will be renovated under a separate scheme.
(With inputs from TOI)
