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Move To Transform Heritage Sites

Balangir: As a part of Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik’s initiative to transform State’s several heritage sites, a high level committee Wednesday visited two very important temples – Harishankar and Nrushinghanath – in Balangir district and discussed about the development of the temple areas.     

The committee comprising Chief Secretary Suresh Chandra Mahapatra, Chairman, Western Odisha Development Council and  Principal Advisor to CM Asit Kumar Tripathy, Secretary to  Chief Minister & 5T Secretary VK Pandian, on the directions of Chief Minister Odisha, paid a visit to both these tepmles. 

These two temples are important tourist and spiritual places of western Odisha and there is tremendous potential to develop it as a part of major tourist circuits, said sources in CM’s office. This historic site is closely associated with the social, cultural and spiritual life of the region. Pilgrims and tourists from the state and beyond visit in large numbers especially during important festivals. 

In view of the importance and popularity, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has directed to take up the project for development and heritage conservation. This transformational project will include beautification, pilgrim amenities, approach roads, tourist facilities, trekking routes, feasibility of ropeway, facilities for marriage halls, water conservation features etc. Reputed professional teams will be assigned for preparing the master plan for the two temple areas. 

It may be mentioned here that recently, on instruction of the CM, the same team had visited Samaleswari temple in Sambalpur and had recommended to CM a development plan of the temple area. Such transformation work is already in progress in areas around the famous Jagannath temple in Puri, Lingaraj temple in Bhubaneswar and Sun temple in Konark. Sources in knowledge of the development said State Government is committed to transformation of many important heritage sites in the state.                 

The Committee along with Principal Secretary, Water Resource Department Anu Garg and other senior officials visited the Lower Suktel Irrigation Project at Magurbeda in Balangir and reviewed its status.

Apart from engineering and proposed enhanced irrigational aspects, the Committee also discussed about the land acquisition compensation, rehabilitation and resettlement issues of the displaced and affected people. The committee directed that all the issues should be resolved and the project execution should be expedited. 

Chanchal Rana, Collector Balangir, Nitin Kushalkar, SP, Balangir and other district officials were present during this visit.