Odisha announces plan for development of Lingaraj Temple

The Odisha government has announced a special package for the development of the Sri Lingaraj Temple and its surrounding areas and also the compensation package for the people to be affected by the beautification drive.

The state government on Thursday decided to launch the 66-acre 'Ekamra Khetra Yojana' as part of the beautification plan of the 11th century Lord Shiva temple and its surrounding areas, an official said on Friday.

The package was approved by Chief Minister Naveen  Patnaik at a meeting here on Thursday, he said. Patnaik also appealed the people to be affected by the beautification drive to cooperate with the state governments bid to beautify the temple, considered as the second Kashi among the Shiv devotees across the country.

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Bhubaneswar is called the Ekamra Khetra as the deity of Lingaraja was originally under a mango tree (Ekamra) as noted in Ekamra Purana, a 13th-century Sanskrit treatise.

According to the package, the affected street vendors will get a compensation of Rs 30,000 each in two instalments and will be rehabilitated in the vending zone. Similarly, the shop owners in concrete buildings to be evicted, will be paid a maintenance allowance of Rs 10,000 each per month for one year till their rehabilitation.

This apart, the government also decided to shift the Sri Lingaraj police station and the Sri Lingaraj Temple Trust office to facilitate the periphery development.

Four parking spaces will be developed for parking of vehicles outside the ancient monument, an official release issued by the Chief Ministers Office said adding that nine projects will be taken up as part of the package.

Work on the renovation of historic water tanks, modern parking, Lingaraj Heritage Project, development of Kedar Gouri and Muketswara temple premises, e-auto programme, establishment of a heritage interpretation centre will be carried out.

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This apart, a park will come up in front of Sri Lingaraj Temple and vehicle movement in front of the temple will be banned while the Bindusagar water tank will be cleaned by using modern technologies, other historical tanks such as Kedar Gouri, Papanasini, Godavari, Kotitirtha, Ganga Jamuna and Debipadahara tanks will be renovated.

This apart, the security of the temple will be strengthened, the release added. For better traffic movement, a new road will be constructed from Taleswara Chhak to Badehibanka Chhak.