Bhubaneswar: Odisha Cabinet chaired by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has approved Shri Lingaraj Temple Ordinance 2020.
The Ordinance allows vesting of the Management of Shri Lingaraj Temple and its properties, including temples situated within its premises, other temples, sacred places and Mutts in a Committee for better administration and governance.
“The detailed provisions have been made in the proposed Ordinance covering all relevant aspects, such as, constitution of Managing Committee, its composition, responsibilities and powers, Administrator’s responsibilities and powers, maintenance and management of movable and immovable properties of the temple, role and responsibilities of the servitors, constitution of the temple fund and its management etc.”
“That apart, the Government has recently proposed to undertake several developmental works for all-round development of Lord Lingaraj Temple which are required to be done on priority basis,” it said.
Since the Odisha Legislative Assembly is not in session, the new law is proposed to be enacted through this Ordinance,” the release added.
The 11th century shrine is presently governed by Odisha Hindu Religious Endowment Act and Lingaraj Temple Act will help in better execution of rituals and management.
An officials release quoted Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik to say that that as per Lingaraj Temple Act, a Managing Committee of 15 members will be formed and empowered to manage affairs of the temple, including seva-puja and nitis.
The Committee will administer the temple and its properties including temples outside the premises and Mutts, he was further quoted.
An Administrator will be appointed to manage day-to-day affairs while necessary provision will be made for budget, audit and inspection.
The legislation will also help in protection, management of temple properties and eviction of unauthorised occupants.
Notably, the Chief Minister recently visited the Lord Lingaraj Temple to review the ongoing developmental activities there and had hinted at such a managing committee on lines of Puri Shree Jagannath Temple Managing Committee and Administration.
The Cabinet also approved the lowest bid of Larsen & Tubro Ltd for construction of a new 650-bed teaching hospital for the new Medical College at Puri.
The project will be executed on turnkey basis at a cost of Rs 224.55 crore.
The new teaching hospital will improve medical education and cater to the needs of qualified doctors required for health institutions, the State Government informed.
The project has been targeted for completion within a period of 3 years.
Besides the Cabinet also approved the lowest bid of Larsen & Toubro Ltd. amounting to Rs.426.51 crore for the construction of 100-seat and 500-bed new Government Medical College & Teaching Hospital at Jajpur on Turnkey basis in order to improve ‘the medical education and to cater to the needs of qualified doctors required for health institutions.
The project has been targeted for completion within a period-of 36 months.
