Bhubaneswar: A day after Odisha Cabinet approved the Lingaraj Temple Ordinance 2020, Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan today wrote to Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, requesting similar legislation for four other iconic temples in the State.
In his letter, the Union Minister has requested the Chief Minister to enact similar legislation for four other iconic temples – Maa Biraja Temple in Jajpur, Maa Samaleswari Temple in Sambalpur, Maa Tara Tarini Temple in Ganjam and Shri Nilamadhav Temple in Nayagarh.
These temples situated in different corners of Odisha form on intangible resource of spiritual and devotional tourism, bringing not only millions of footfalls and associated revenue but also defining and manifesting in the essential day-to-day life of its citizens, Pradhan said.
Bringing these temples under legislative guidelines along the lines of Shri Jagannath Temple Act, 1955 and Shri Lingaraj Temple Ordinance. 2020 will not only bring a high standard of accountability to the management of the temples with necessary provision for budgeting, planning and audits etc. but also safeguard the long-term interest of the temples and pave the way of offering better facilities to visitors and devotees, he said.